Worried about your child and nudes? (subtitled)

What are nudes?

Nudes are self-taken images or videos that show someone nude or partially nude.  Other terms may include ‘nude selfies’, ’pics’, or ’n4n’ (nudes for nudes). Young people sometimes share their nudes.

Are nudes illegal?

It is illegal to create, possess or share nude images of anyone under 18. However, the law is there to protect children and, in most cases where nudes have been consensually shared between young people, police consider a common-sense approach and don’t pursue charges.

Where an adult has asked or forced someone under 18 to share a nude, this is child sexual abuse and should be reported to the police.

Why do some young people send nudes?

There are many reasons why a young person might share a nude, including:

• curiosity
• for fun
• as part of a romantic or sexual relationship
• pressure to fit in with peers
• in search of validation

Understanding why a nude image has been shared can help you best support your child. Watch the video below for one parents’ experience.

How can you support your child?

Talking about nudes should be part of ongoing conversations with your child about sex and relationships. It might be embarrassing at first but this video suggests some ways to start it off.

When should I be worried?

Young people may share nudes for different reasons and in different ways, some situations are riskier than others. This video can help you with how and when to respond. 

Where can I get help?

If your child has shared a nude and you are concerned, watch the video below on where you can get help.