Many young people are concerned about the risks of sexting – sending sexually explicit photos or videos via text, WhatsApp or Snapchat. But it’s important to remember that if anyone in the picture is underage or does not have their clear consent then sexting can be illegal.
It is also worth helping your child recognise that being persuaded or forced into sharing nudes can be dangerous.
Legality
There is no doubt that sexting is a big issue in our society. Whether it is nude photos, lewd text messages or sexually explicit video clips, many people are sending and receiving intimate content on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this content can quickly spread beyond the intended recipient’s screen. It could be forwarded to another person, or it could be posted online in a forum or social media site.
It’s important to understand that sharing a sext is illegal, especially if it involves someone under the age of 18. When images or videos are shared without consent, they may become child pornography, which is punishable by law. Even if the person who shares the sext was not the original creator, they could still be held responsible if they know the child is in it.
Moreover, sharing intimate images of another person without their permission is known as revenge porn and can have serious consequences for both the sender and the receiver. It’s often a crime and can affect the victim’s personal relationships, reputation, career and job prospects. It can also damage a person’s ability to find new romantic partners. In fact, some people have found themselves unable to get jobs because of their digital history.
In addition to criminal charges, it’s possible that those who share sexts of others can be sued in civil court for damages. The victim can pursue a civil claim for the distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation caused by the violation of their privacy. They can also sue the person who committed the offense for breach of contract and other financial damages.
If you are the victim of revenge porn and your intimate content was shared without your permission, you should take action immediately. The easiest way to fight back is by sending a DMCA takedown request to the website or platform that is hosting your content. This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to combat revenge porn, but it’s important to seek legal advice before taking this route. You can also sue the person who shared your content in a civil claim, but that’s a more complicated process.
Consent
It’s a familiar scenario: the delightful “ding” of an incoming text or Snapchat alert, and you open it to be met with a naked bod. What you do next depends largely on your relationship with the person who sent it and how they feel about unsolicited nude photos. But it’s important to understand the psychological impact these images have on the brain.
A nude photo stimulates both the ventral striatum (responsible for reward processing) and the dopamine system, which boosts feelings of pleasure and desire. This makes it easy for people to become addicted to sexual stimuli, including pornography. And it can also lead to sexual behavior that is against one’s sexual moral code, causing distress and trauma.
If an image is of a minor, it is considered child exploitation material and can have serious consequences. It’s illegal to possess or share sexual images of children under 18 unless they consent to it. A convicted offender could face a fine, prison time and be added to the sex offenders register.
Even if an image is consensual, it can still cause harm. If an image is sent to a child or young person, it can lead to bullying and social isolation. It’s also possible for predators to circulate the image and use it to blackmail or groom them for abuse.
Sexting is the practice of sending nude or sexually suggestive images, videos and texts. While it is a common activity among adolescents and young adults, it can have negative effects on mental health and relationships. It can also be a gateway to sexual exploitation and criminal activities.
Sexually explicit messages and images should only be sent to people who are a good match for you. This includes friends, family members and people you’ve matched with on dating apps. If you’re receiving content that makes you uncomfortable, it’s best to talk about it with the sender. If they don’t listen and continue to send unwanted content, you can report them to CEOP.
If you see a sexually explicit image of someone online, it’s important to act quickly. Tell a trusted adult and report it to the website or app where the image was posted. You can also call CEOP’s helpline for support and advice.
Risks
It’s important to remember that sexting (sex+text) is a form of sexual exploitation that can lead to blackmail, cyber bullying and more. Even if you believe the person you are sending nudes to won’t share them with anyone else, that can be changed quickly. It’s also possible for photos and videos to be forwarded to other people, shared online, or even leaked from someone’s phone.
The most serious risk of all is that someone will be harmed by the images or video you send them. Research has shown that looking at sexually explicit content can cause anxiety and depression. It also increases impulsive behavior and the likelihood of substance use. These risks are especially true for vulnerable groups like women and LGB youth. In fact, a recent study found that more than one-quarter of LGB teens who shared nudes had experienced sexual abuse online or offline.
Another risk is that if you are under the age of 18, you could be breaking laws by sharing nudes with others. For example, if you take a nude selfie and send it to your friends, you are creating child pornography. In the same way, if you receive a nude photo or video from someone else and post it online without their consent, you are in possession of revenge pornography—also illegal.
While it might be tempting to text a hot bod, it’s important to think about the consequences of doing so. Nude photos and videos can damage self-esteem, cause shame or embarrassment and create an unhealthy relationship with sex. It can also lead to a lack of trust and a sense of control over your body and emotions.
It’s also important to talk with your partner about how you both feel about sharing nudes before you do so. If your partner is not comfortable with this, it’s best to find other ways to turn up the heat, such as calling each other or using your imagination to talk about sexy scenarios. Finally, don’t send nudes to strangers—even if they seem super hot on a dating app!
Privacy
The ease with which we can now instantaneously swap nude photos has a downside. The privacy implications aren’t always immediately apparent, but over time they can have long-term ramifications. While it’s possible to have fun and build intimacy without sharing nudes, there are also plenty of other ways to get the blood pumping. A good rule of thumb is to only send nudes to people who you trust implicitly. Ideally, you would know this from their actions and behavior, but in unhealthy relationships that are full of gaslighting and emotional abuse, this may not be easy. And remember, once a photo is sent it cannot be revoked, even if you later decide to end the relationship.
Another issue is the potential for sexting to be exploited. If you send a nude pic to someone and they share it online without your consent (or with the wrong audience), this can be considered revenge porn. If you think this is happening to you, don’t be afraid to talk to your parents or an adult you trust and let them help de-escalate the situation.
A way to reduce the likelihood of an image being shared is to move it to a password-protected folder on your phone, or a separate app that requires a pin number or passcode to access it. It’s a good idea to use a different password than the one you use for your email, bank accounts and other sensitive information.
Other tips include avoiding showing any unique physical features that can be used to identify you, like scars, tattoos and piercings. You can also angle your body in a way that obscures these areas or cover them with makeup or an editing app, says pleasure expert Carly S.
And while it’s a hard tip to swallow, be sure not to snap nude selfies for anyone you don’t trust. This type of exploitation can also be a form of blackmail and it’s common for perpetrators to threaten to post nude images of people online for money. This is especially true of women and lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) people.