Sharing nudes: what parents and young people need to know

12th December 2017 | Self Protection

Updated November 2026. We first wrote this in 2017 and have brought it up to date with current UK guidance.

Sharing nudes, often called sexting, is something we talk about in our Self Protection classes because it affects children from primary school upwards. Here is what parents and young people need to know.

What the law says

In England and Wales it is against the law to take, make, keep, show or share a nude or sexual image of anyone under 18. That includes a young person taking a picture of themselves. The age of consent is 16, but the law on images is 18.

The law also covers images that have been edited or made with AI or “nudify” apps. A fake nude of a classmate is still an indecent image of a child.

Will my child get a criminal record?

The police and schools do not set out to criminalise young people. Where two young people have shared images with each other and there is no pressure, exploitation or malice, the police can record it as “Outcome 21”. That means they have decided further action is not in the public interest.

A crime record is not the same as a criminal record, but in some cases it can still be disclosed on an enhanced DBS check later in life, so it is worth taking seriously. Things are treated very differently where an adult is involved, where someone has been pressured or threatened, or where images have been shared to hurt or humiliate someone.

Sextortion

A growing problem is young people, often teenage boys, being tricked into sending an image by someone pretending to be another young person, then being threatened that it will be shared unless they pay. These are usually organised criminals, often based overseas.

If this happens, don’t pay and don’t send anything more. Keep the messages, block the account and tell an adult straight away. It should be reported to the police or to CEOP.

If your child has sent or received an image

  • Stay calm. Your child needs to feel they can come to you, this time and next time.
  • Don’t look at, copy, forward or save the image, even to show someone else.
  • Unless the police are involved, young people are usually advised to delete images they have received and not pass them on. If the police are involved, don’t delete anything. Switch the device off and keep it safe.
  • If the image is online, anyone under 18 can use Report Remove from Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation to get it taken down. They don’t have to give their real name.
  • Let your child’s school know. They have trained staff and clear guidance to follow.

Talking to your children

  • Once an image is sent, you lose control of where it ends up.
  • No one should pressure you into sending anything. If they do, that tells you a lot about them.
  • If someone sends you an image, don’t forward it.
  • If you’re asked for an image, or you’re worried about one you’ve sent, telling a trusted adult is always the right thing to do.

Where to get help