Given the intersection of device access and puberty that exists for kids today, sending naked photos, sharing photos of others, and being asked for nude photos is increasingly common among kids. And kids don’t view it as fundamentally bad.
Participating in this behavior can be the result of exploration and natural curiosity, or a result of pressure and exploitation. While this behavior poses a variety of dangers, we’ve found that very often the point of most harm occurs when content is reshared without consent.
The prevalence of the issue means it’s key that you begin a dialogue with your child about it while they are open to learning from you.
Talk about the risks of sending, asking for, and resharing nudes.
It is important that kids know that it is illegal to share naked photos of people under the age of 18, even if they are of themselves. However, leading with this can set a very serious tone that could isolate them, causing feelings of fear or shame if they do end up participating in this behavior in the future.
Instead, start small and build towards the tough stuff. Talk to your child without judgment through conversations centered around trust, consent, what to do if someone asks for a photo of them, threatens them, and the risks of sending naked photos and passing around images of other people.
Discuss their role as a friend, ally, and bystander.
Have a discussion with your kids about what it means to share or forward nude photos of a classmate, a peer, or someone online. Keep your kids, and others, safe by encouraging them not to participate in this behavior, and to call it out or tell a trusted adult when they see it. Consent is a great place to start this conversation — it’s not up to them to decide who should see someone else’s body.
We’ve heard from kids that they are being solicited online to send nudes as young as age 9, so it’s important to start having conversations around this topic as they become more curious, both online and offline. Build upon earlier skills like digital safety, making friends online, and digital privacy.
Be mindful of how these experiences make you feel and take a couple deep breaths before initiating these tricky conversations. Then, focus on taking a calm, non-judgmental approach and start small.
Did you know that it is important to ask someone for permission before sharing photos or information about them?
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Let’s Talk About Consent
Whether online or offline, consent is a life skill your child should understand and be comfortable practicing. Consent is about boundaries, respect, and communication, and it’s a two way street.
Do you and your friends talk about photos people post online?
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Start Talking About the Risks of Taking Naked Photos
Sending and receiving nudes is increasingly common among kids. The prevalence of the issue means it’s key that you begin a dialogue with your child about it while they are open to learning from you.
Set the stage to discourage your child from participating in this behavior, in order to help curb the spread of leaked nudes and prevent further harm.
Do you ask your friends for permission before you post something about them online?
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Let’s Talk About Consent
Whether online or offline, consent is a life skill your child should understand and be comfortable practicing. Consent is about boundaries, respect, and communication, and it’s a two way street.
Having these conversations early on, while your kid is open to learning from you, can help them better understand the situation and know you’ll be there unconditionally. Even if you think they know you’ll support them, having these conversations can make a big difference in them sharing their experiences with you if something goes wrong.
Additional Resources
From simple tips to complex explorations, we’ve gathered a range of information, videos, and articles designed to help you keep exploring these topics.
Video
Consent for Kids
Source: Blue Seat Studios
Consent is like being ruler of your own country...population: YOU. This is a smart, playful video guide to consent and bodily autonomy.
Article
Sextortion: Online Coercion and Blackmail
Source: Amaze & Thorn
Thorn partnered with Amaze to create a video explaining what sextortion is and some of the red flags of when behaviors might be sextortion. Learn what to do if a a child you know experiences sextortion and how to get help.
Sextortion: the threat to reveal intimate images to get someone to do something. Get tips & resources for caregivers to stop sextortion before it starts.
Tips and Tricks to Keep Yourself Safe From Online Creepers
Source: Love146
We know that the internet isn't a scary place. But it’s important to remember that interacting with people online can get complicated. Here are some helpful tips.
Don’t panic. We’ve read about the statistics of young people sharing explicit images of themselves online, but what parents need to understand is – right or wrong, sexting is considered a new normal for kids and teens today.
Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
NCMEC’s CyberTipline receives reports regarding suspected child sexual exploitation, including “sextortion,”a new online exploitation crime directed towards children in which non-physical forms of coercion are used, such as blackmail, to acquire sexual content from the child, engage in sex with the child, or obtain money from the child.
Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU
Source: Rachel Brian
A book focused on boundaries and how to set them; signs of healthy (and unhealthy) relationships; ways to respect themselves and others; what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe; and much more.
Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
NetSmartz is an interactive, educational program that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline.
Article
Personal Safety: Sexting
Video and supporting materials features a scenario of sending nude photos via text, or sexting. It covers the potential consequences and emphasizes that while feeling attracted to someone is totally normal, there are more respectful ways to show someone you like them.
It is important to talk with your children about the possible consequences of sending or sharing intimate or sexually explicit messages, images, photos or videos. And there are ways you can help if things go wrong.
Sexting — or using your phone to send sexual pictures, videos, or texts — may seem like no big deal. Before you hit send though, consider the consequences.
StopNCII.org is operated by the Revenge Porn Helpline which is part of SWGfL, a charity that believes that all should benefit from technology, free from harm.
Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
You’ve likely heard of sexting – sharing and receiving sexually explicit messages and nude or partially nude images by text or through an app. Though sexting can be part of normal adolescent sexual development, there are also risks, particularly sextortion.
