Sexting

BeSmart

Sexting

What is sexting?

Sexting is when someone sends a naked or semi-naked image or video to another person. The term sexting is often used by young people to talk about sharing sexual messages and not imagery. Young people can send nudes using all different types of devices and can share them across any app or site. It can also include sharing them across devices using offline services like Airdrop or Bluetooth.

Why do young people sext?

  • Peer Pressure.
  • Being blackmailed or harassed or threatened.
  • Being groomed or coercion.
  • Feeling like they “owe” their partner and are made to feel guilty if they don’t.
  • Being in a relationship with someone and trusting them.

What are the risks?

  • No control over the image. Once something is shared online it can be saved or copied by others and shared widely.
  • Bullied or blackmailed by someone who has copied your image.
  • Sharing images of others and distributing them: as part of a dare, to get back at someone after a breakup, or to bully someone

Online sexual harassment

This is a form of bullying and is when someone receives unwanted sexual contact on a digital platform. When someone has a nude image or video shared of them online it is classed as online sexual harassment.

Behaviours could include:

  • Spreading rumours or lies of a sexual nature.
  • Sharing a nude image or video of someone without their consent.
  • Sharing a sexual image and claiming it to be of someone to embarrass or upset them.
  • Sending sexualised messages to someone via private message comments publicly on their posts.
  • Being bullied because of their actual/perceived gender or sexual orientation.
  • Sending sexualised emojis or memes to embarrass or annoy someone.

What should I do?

Created by AMAZE Org

For further advice around sexting, nudes and the law, check out  Sexting and sending nudes | Childline

Advice around the removal and reporting of images can be found at Report Remove | Childline