Revenge Porn
Also known as:
- non-consensual image sharing
- private image sharing
- intimate image abuse
- image-based sexual abuse
- indecent images of children
- child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
What is Risk ?
Digital risk factors associated with their interests and activities
Private or sexual material is typically photos and videos. For example, someone in their underwear, naked, or having sex. Revenge refers to how this material can be shared to cause another person embarrassment or distress, sometimes by an ex-partner.
For people working in child protection, terms that should be avoided are:
- revenge porn
- porn
- pornography should be avoided.
More appropriate terms for sexual imagery involving someone under the age of 18 are:
- indecent images of children
- child sexual abuse material
Material could be shared through:
- group chats
- social media accounts or ‘bait out’ pages
- websites
- text messages
- printed images
Material is sometimes shared with the person’s personal information. For example, their name, home address, or links to social media profiles.
Sharing someone else’s private or sexual material without consent is a criminal offence. Those found guilty can be fined or sentenced to up to two years in prison. It is also illegal to threaten to share private, sexual material.
Any image, video, or representation of someone under 18 engaged in actual or simulated sexual activities is child sexual abuse material (CSAM). It is illegal to make, possess, distribute, or show CSAM. This applies to situations where both sender and recipient are under 18, and have created and shared images consensually.
Risks and motivations
Risks
Blackmail, coercion, and abuse
Private and sexual material can be used to blackmail or coerce someone. This is sometimes called sextortion. For example, someone could threaten to distribute a sexual video which involves a young person. They may also threaten to share the video with a young person’s parents, friends, or school.
Someone could use someone else’s private or sexual materials to request payment or more material. They could also use it as an opportunity to meet them offline. This could increase the risk of further physical and sexual abuse.
Breaking the law
It is illegal for anyone to create, possess, or share nude imagery of someone under the age of 18. Being found guilty of these offences can lead to a fine or prison sentence.
It is illegal to share intimate images of someone over the age of 18 without their consent.
Harassment and distress
Someone whose material has been shared may be harassed online or offline. They might feel embarrassed about originally creating and sending the material or that the material has been shared.
Reputational damage
Private or sexual materials can be widely shared online. This can negatively affect someone’s reputation or change how others perceive them. This could include parents or potential employers.
Motivations
A child or young person may have shared private or sexual imagery of someone else without consent because they:
- find it entertaining
- want to humiliate or embarrass them
- find it arousing or sexually gratifying
- are involved in a social group or online community where private or sexual material is shared
- think possessing someone else’s private or sexual material gives status
- have a limited understanding of personal boundaries and consent
- think the other person is to blame
- aren’t aware of the law
What you can do
You may be working with someone who has had their private or sexual material shared without their consent. It’s important not to blame them. You should also remind them why their boundaries and consent are important and should be respected.
In these situations, GOV.UK advise that you follow the guidance on how to respond to incidents of sharing nudes and semi-nudes, which says:
- report it to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or equivalent immediately.
- 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 about 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).
You might also be working with a child or young person who has shared this material without the consent of another.
Non-consensual sharing of private or sexual material is a criminal offence. If you have questions about the legality of a young person’s behaviour you should seek legal advice.
If you think that a young person is at risk, follow your safeguarding procedure and read our safeguarding guidance.
Support
You may be working with someone who has had their private, sexual imagery shared without their consent. This can be deeply distressing and there may be several associated risks and harms.
You may also be working with someone who has shared someone’s private, sexual material without consent.
For any incidents which involve sexual or nude imagery of someone under the age of 18, your first response should be to follow GOV.UK advice on responding to incidents of sharing nudes and semi-nudes.
Individual recovery processes will depend on the nature of the incident and any harms that have been experienced.
Recovery might require the involvement of several specialist organisations. It may be necessary to make reports about specific imagery to organisations, for example, Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) or the police. Some organisations, like the Revenge Porn Helpline, only provide direct support to people over the age of 18.
Talking with a young person could also help with the recovery process. You might decide to talk about:
- why consent and personal boundaries are important and should be respected
- that they are never to blame if someone has shared their private imagery without consent
- that it’s important to speak to a trusted adult if something has upset or concerns them
- a review of privacy settings on platforms, for example, social media
Read more about revenge porn
- Not just flirting (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
- Revenge porn - the facts (GOV.UK) – File
- The Sexual Offences Act 2003, Section 66 (GOV.UK) – Website
- The Sexual Offences Act (Scotland) 2009, Section 6 (GOV.UK) – Website
- Why language matters (NSPCC) – Website
Share your experience of revenge porn
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