Ever asked someone to send you a nude? Ever got one?
Maybe you asked for it, maybe you didn't.
Maybe it's from the person in the pic or maybe someone else forwarded it to you.
The question is, what are you going to do next?
Here's a few things to keep in mind...
Once the nude is in your phone, you've got to do the right thing – you've gotta ‘stay classy'.
Don't be the one who's first response is to send it on to other people. That's like someone telling you super personal information and you immediately screaming out, "Whoahoah! Yo, everybody, check this out!"
If you receive a nude or sexual text from someone, DO NOT show it to anyone else. Sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent is image-based abuse and is a crime in some states, as in ILLEGAL! Note that there can be an exception to this rule where you didn’t ask for, or want to receive the image/sext, in which case it may be necessary to report the sender or seek help from a responsible adult. Check out Youth Law Australia for details…
Take a second to put yourself in the shoes of the person who's in the picture (...yeah, even if they're not wearing any). They gave you this image - and you need to assume it came with the words, "This is totally just between you and me...". Even if you took it as a joke, it's still massively important to keep it private.
If you can't handle that responsibility, delete it.
Here's what to do
On top of the legal implications of having or forwarding a nude it's about being a decent human being. So...
- Before you start nagging someone to "Pleeease send me a nude..." try, y'know, staying classy.
- And before you forward that image you just got to all your mates, why not stop, and maybe, ummm... stay classy and legal?
- And before you find a pic of an ex and start plotting excellent ways to embarrass them, try maybe, oh, I dunno, what's that thing again...? Staying. Freakin'. Classy!
If you want to get the legal lowdown or information about sexting, nudes and image-based abuse please visit the eSafety Commissioner or Youth Law Australia.
