Online Safety - a guide for children and young people

Sexting

Sexting is when someone sends or receives a sexually explicit text, image or video. This includes sending ‘nude pics’, ‘rude pics’ or ‘nude selfies’. Pressuring someone into sending a nude pic can happen in any relationship and to anyone, whatever their age, gender or sexual preference.

It’s easy to think that everybody is sending these nude selfies – they’re not! Putting pressure on someone to send a nude pic, or sharing someone’s picture without their permission, even if it’s a friend and they say it’s just banter is wrong and even illegal.

If someone is forcing you to send an inappropriate image of yourself you should report them to the Police by calling 101. 

Remember if you need someone to talk to you can talk to anyone at school or alternatively you can ring Childline on 0800 11 11 – 24 Hour Line.

To make an online report click on the following link and follow the instructions: https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre

REMEMBER

Once you send a message. Once you’ve pressed send you can’t control what happens next. It could be shared with others you never intended, so ask yourself could you cope if that happened.

Don’t let someone guilt or pressure you. Sending a sext to someone because they pressure you to do it is putting yourself at risk. Remember once you’ve sent it they have control, so if you’re uncomfortable about it don’t do it.

You’ve sent a nude picture. At the time you sent it you felt OK, but now you feel uncomfortable about it. You could try being honest with them saying you now regret it and ask them to delete it.

Posted Online. If an indecent or nude pic of you is posted online, you can contact the website directly to request it be removed or contact Childline on 0800 11 11- 24 Hour Line for support in getting it removed.