Sexting

Sexting, or sending a sexual text, image or video is illegal unless both people are over the age of consent, and consent. This means that before you send someone something intimate, or sexual, you should have consent from that person.

Crucial: Sending someone unwanted sexual messages is illegal and abuse. Find out more about Sexting from Childline.

If a message has been sent

Once a message is sent, you have no control over what happens to it. It can be shared with other people, passed around groups or even uploaded onto the public internet.

This can happen even if:

• You have only shared an image with someone you trust
• You have set the image to private, or to delete after a certain time

Instant Expert: Childline's advice page about Sexting and sending nudes has information on how to resist pressure to send a picture, what the law says, and what to do if a picture has been sent.

Feeling pressurized?

If someone tries to pressure you to pressure you into sending a naked picture, this is abuse.

While nude images are actively removed from many networks, images may still be copied and stored. 

When you’re under 18 it is illegal to take a sexual photograph of yourself. It is illegal to take or create a sexual image of anyone else if you or they are under 18.

Crucial: Worried about content you have seen online? You can use Report Harmful Content to find out about how to report content on multiple platforms.

Protection from harm

The police have the power to decide whether it is best just to record what’s happened or to take things further.

The law is there to protect children and young people, not punish them.

But if the police or anyone else think there is cause for concern (for example, if someone has been persuaded, pestered or bullied) then there can be serious consequences.

If you are in a healthy relationship and there are no concerns about consent, then the police are unlikely to take things further.

But the child's family may. 

Take action: If a naked picture of you has been shared or posted online, this is abuse. You can tell a trusted adult (like a teachers, sports coach, youth workers or school Health nurse), or use the report remove tool from Childline.