What Are the Risks of Sending Nudes?

Know the Risks Before You Send

• If someone shares your nude without your permission.
• If someone uses your nude as revenge or to blackmail you.
• If someone you didn’t want to see your nude sees it.
• If you’re pressured into sending.
• If you or the person who receives your nude gets caught and faces criminal punishment — it is illegal for anyone to share or receive naked or sexual photos of people under the age of 18.

Sextortion and Online Predators

There has been a significant increase in predatory adults posing as young people on apps, social media, and gaming communities in order to pressure young people for nudes for the purpose of blackmailing them — also known as sextortion. The FBI is investigating multiple cases of young people who shared an image with someone they met online, only for that person to threaten to share the image publicly if they didn’t send money. We strongly recommend blocking any contact from an unknown contact that escalates inappropriately and seeking help from a trusted adult.

If It Happens to You, It’s Not Your Fault

We want to be very clear: if you’re pressured into sending nudes or they’re shared without permission, it’s not your fault. This is a type of harassment, and nobody deserves to have their nudes used against them or shared without their consent. Even if someone is pressuring you, you don’t owe anyone nudes.

Laws surrounding nudes vary state to state, so it’s best to look up “intimate images laws” in your state. If you’re being harassed or blackmailed, or you see someone else’s nudes being shared, reporting to a trusted adult is always an option — just be mindful that they might have to contact authorities. You can also block the person, tell them it’s not okay, and report it to the platform. And remember the BAEcode: don’t send unrequested nudes, and don’t pressure someone to send nudes or share them without consent.