Choose Topic
Sharing Nudes & Semi-Nudes
Whether you call these images ‘nudes’, ‘pics’, or something else, it will refer to sending or posting sexual images, videos, or livestreams online.
This could be via text, email, social media and gaming platforms, chat apps or forums. Messages could be to a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or someone online, and they may include:
- being partly or completely naked, or in your underwear
- posing in a sexual position
- sending ‘nudes’ or ‘dick pics’
- talking about sexual things you’re doing or want to do
- doing sexual things on a live stream
It is against the law for a person to take, distribute, possess, or publish nude images of someone under 18. This means technically it is illegal for under 18s to share nude images of themselves or someone else who is under 18.
However, the law is there to protect children from abuse, and police work under clear guidance that under 18s should not be criminalised for sending nude images of themselves unless the image has been created, shared or received without an individual’s consent or through coercion or threats.
For example, if a young person’s nude is shared more widely by one or more other people, without their consent, the person in the image is the victim of a crime and would not be considered to have done anything wrong.
Did You Know
Images sent
Did You Know
Not everyone
Did You Know
Sharing nudes
Did You Know
Losing control
Did You Know
While it can
Did You Know
If something goes wrong
What to do if you’ve shared a nude
- Use the reporting features on social media platforms to have it removed
- If your nude image has been sent to someone, ask for it to be deleted
- Use Report Remove to try to get it removed from the internet
- Watch out for scams. ‘Catfishing’ or sextortion scams might try to get you to share nude images, then will blackmail you into sending more images or money to prevent the scammer from sharing what they have. Don’t reply to someone trying to threaten or blackmail you, instead report the matter to the police
- If someone won’t stop messaging you or asking you for nudes, blocking and reporting them can help to keep you and other young people safe
- Talk to an adult you trust. They can help you follow the correct reporting procedures and can support you
Get Support
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Trusted Adults or Your GP
Report Remove Tool
CEOP
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline
Lifeline
