Nude sharing
Also known as:
- sending nudes
- sexting
- nude selfies
- dick pics
What is Risk ?
Digital risk factors associated with their interests and activities
Nudes are typically taken, sent, and received with mobile devices and through social media or messenger platforms.
In most cases of nude sharing, the person sending the image will take an image or video of themselves which they then share. This may include their face or identifiable details, but not always.
Someone might send a nude because they have been asked to. In some cases, someone will send a nude without being asked to, or without actually knowing the person who receives it. This could be classed as cyberflashing. Once an image is shared, the person who has sent it has no control over how it may be distributed. It can be shared with large numbers of people.
Someone who receives an image or video may decide to circulate it more widely online via:
- group chats
- messenger apps
- social media
- chat forums
A bait out page is a term for an online space where local gossip and drama is shared. It can occur on social media or in messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Content shared can include nudes images of children and young people. This is a form of child sexual abuse material.
It is illegal for anyone to create, share, or possess nude imagery of someone under the age of 18.
Where this can happen
Risks and motivations
Risks
Blackmail or coercion
Nude images can be used to blackmail or coerce the person in the image. This is sometimes referred to as sextortion. For example, someone who has been sent a nude image may threaten to distribute the image or inform a young person’s parents or school unless they get more nude images or payment.
Grooming for abuse
Nude sharing can be part of a process where someone is groomed for abuse online. Someone with the intent to abuse may request to meet offline. This can be highly dangerous, including risks of physical and sexual abuse.
Bullying or harassment
Someone who has shared a nude image can be bullied and harassed online and offline. For example, they may be made to feel embarrassed about sending graphic images, especially if these images are widely shared among peers.
This sort of bullying might damage the reputation or friendships of the person who has sent the nude image.
Non-consensual image sharing
Once someone has sent a nude they no longer have control over it. Someone who receives the image can share it without the consent or knowledge of the person who originally sent it.
Having nude images shared without consent can be embarrassing and distressing for the person in the image.
Breaking the law
It is illegal for anyone to create, share, or possess nude imagery of someone under the age of 18. A young person might also be breaking the law if they send nude images without somebody asking for them. This could be classed as cyberflashing.
Cyberflashing is a criminal offence. Laws relating to indecent images of children are designed to protect children rather than criminalise them.
Reputational damage
The sharing of nude imagery online can negatively affect someone’s reputation or change how others perceive them. For example, gaining a reputation for sharing nudes and that these behaviours are expected of them.
A young person may also be concerned about what others, including parents or employers, may think about them if they have shared nudes.
Motivations
Children and young people may share nude images for a variety of reasons, including:
- because they have received a nude
- relationship or peer pressure
- because they think it is normal
- financial gain
- attention
- they do not know it is illegal
- low self-esteem
- limited understanding of personal boundaries
Young people may also share nudes because they believe that someone will not share or circulate these images. Research has suggested vulnerable people, and those who experience socio-economic disadvantages, can be more likely to send nude imagery.
The motivation for some young people to consensually share nudes isn’t always negative. Some young people view nude sharing as part of a sexually intimate and romantic relationship.
When a child or young person creates child sexual abuse material this is often because they are being coerced or groomed.
Young people’s voice
I just felt too ashamed [to speak to anyone]. I wish I had because he probably would’ve got caught. But no, I didn’t tell anybody. [If I had to give my younger self some advice] I’d say don’t send nudes. It’s hard though, because I do understand the pressure you get from guys to do it, but unless you’re willing to have your reputation ruined, I wouldn’t do it, to be honest.
19-year-old with experience of having their nudes shared without consent.
Without consent Exploring image-based abuse in relationships, Revealing reality, 2023.
I think if you was face-to-face and you would only really do that [get naked / have sex] if you trusted them a lot... you don’t always have to do that, like, you could do something better and then you can both agree with it. But if it’s online, there’s not really anything else to do... once you ran out of things to talk about.
Young person
Digital Romance: A research project exploring young people’s use of technology in their romantic relationships and love lives, Brook & CEOP, 2017.
What you can do
In cases where a child or young person has shared an explicit or nude image of anyone under the age of 18, GOV.UK advises the following:
- Report it to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or equivalent immediately.
- Your setting’s child protection policy should outline codes of practice to be followed.
- Never view, copy, print, share, store or save the imagery yourself, or ask a child to share or download it. This is illegal.
- If you have already viewed the imagery by accident (for example, if a young person has shown it to you before you could ask them not to), report this to the DSL (or equivalent) and seek support.
- Do not delete the imagery or ask the young person to delete it.
- Do not ask the child/children or young person(s) who are involved in the incident to disclose information regarding the imagery.
- Do not share information about the incident with other members of staff, the young person(s) it involves or their, or other, parents and/or carers.
- Do not say or do anything to blame or shame any young people involved.
- Do explain to them that you need to report it and reassure them that they will receive support and help from the DSL (or equivalent).
GOV.UK also suggest that: “The designated safeguarding lead should be familiar with the full 2024 guidance from the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS): Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people, and should not refer to this guidance instead of the full guidance.”
If you think that a young person is at risk, follow your safeguarding procedure and read our safeguarding guidance.
Support
Talking can be one way to help a young person recover from experiences of nude sharing. This is true if they have sent or been sent nude imagery.
The discussion might involve:
- the importance of things like personal boundaries and consent
- some of the risks associated with nude sharing
- reviewing privacy settings on platforms or devices
- speaking to a trusted adult if they’re unsure about something, or if something has upset them
- that they are never to blame if they’ve received unsolicited nude imagery
- Report remove (Childline) – Website
- Report child sexual abuse (Internet Watch Foundation) – Website
- Report online sexual abuse (Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)) – Website
- Reporting service (Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)) – Website
- Sexting: sharing nudes and semi-nudes (NSPCC) – Website
Read more about nude sharing
- Sexting: sharing nudes and semi-nudes (NSPCC) – Website
- Not just flirting (Revealing Reality) – Website
- Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: how to respond to an incident (overview) (GOV.UK) – Website
- Indecent images of children: guidance for young people (GOV.UK) – Website
- Research into risk factors that may lead children to harm online (Revealing Reality) – Website
- Digital romance: A research report exploring young people's use of technology in their romantic relationships and love lives (Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)) – Journal
Share your experience of nude sharing
You can tell us about:
- other terms you might have heard
- conversations you’ve had with young people
- a related platform or app
- another related risk or harm