Sexting Education Centre

Everything You Need to Know About Sexting

Straight answers on the law, staying safe and what to do when things go wrong. Written in plain English, checked against the latest UK and international law, and free for everyone.

Is sexting legal? What can I send? Is sending a dick pic illegal? Someone is blackmailing me Safest app for sexting Deepfake nudes I'm under 18 I'm a parent All 100+ questions
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Need help right now?

If someone is threatening you, or your images have been shared, start here. You're not in trouble, and help is available.

Someone is threatening to share my nudesDon't pay. Step-by-step sextortion help. My images have been sharedGet them taken down, stop them spreading, and report it. I sent it to the wrong personHow to unsend it, and what to say.
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Sexting and the law

Is sexting legal? What counts as cyberflashing or image abuse? How the rules differ in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Sexting and the law: worldwide overviewIs sexting legal? The rules that apply almost everywhere, and a country-by-country comparison.What you can and can't sendA plain-English checklist of what is legal to send, and what can get you arrested.Sexting laws in the UKHow the law works across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.England and WalesCyberflashing, intimate image abuse, deepfakes and under-18s under English and Welsh law.ScotlandScotland has its own sexual offences laws. Here is how they apply to sexting.Northern IrelandThe Northern Ireland offences for sharing images and sending unwanted sexual images.IrelandCoco's Law, the age of consent and under-18 images in the Republic of Ireland.United StatesFederal law, the TAKE IT DOWN Act and how sexting rules differ state by state.AustraliaFederal deepfake laws, eSafety image-based abuse removals and state differences.CanadaIntimate image offences, the 2026 deepfake changes and age rules in Canada.New ZealandThe Harmful Digital Communications Act and intimate visual recordings.South AfricaThe Cybercrimes Act, the Films and Publications Act and sexting.Cyberflashing explainedSending unsolicited nudes or 'dick pics' is a crime in many places. What counts.Intimate image abuse ('revenge porn')Sharing, or threatening to share, someone's private images without consent.
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Staying safe

How to sext without regrets: consent, choosing the right app, keeping your identity private, and spotting fakes and scammers.

The safe sexting guideThe complete checklist for sexting without regrets.How to hide your identity in nudesFaces, tattoos, backgrounds, reflections and hidden photo data.Which apps are safest for sexting?WhatsApp, Snapchat, Signal, Telegram, iMessage and others compared.Sextortion: what to doSomeone is threatening to share your images unless you pay. Step-by-step help.Catfish and romance scamsHow to spot fake profiles before you send anything.If your images have been sharedHow to get intimate images taken down and report it.Deepfakes and 'nudify' appsAI-generated fake nudes: the law, the risks and what to do.Sent a sext to the wrong person?What to do right now, and how to stop it happening again.Sexting after a breakupWhat happens to the photos you shared, and how to stay safe.
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Young people, parents and schools

For under-18s who need help, parents worried about their child, and schools responding to an incident.

Sexting and under-18s: the factsWhat the law says, what to do if a nude of you is out there, and where to get help.Being pressured to send nudesHow to say no, what to say back, and why it's never your fault.How to remove a nude of you (under 18)Report Remove, Take It Down and other tools to get images taken down.A parent's guide to sextingHow to talk about it, and what to do if your child has sent, received or shared nudes.Sexting incidents: guidance for schoolsHow schools and colleges should respond when nudes are shared.
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FAQ and help

Over 100 questions answered, and every helpline and reporting tool in one place.

Sexting FAQ: 100+ questions answeredEvery question we get asked about sexting, answered in plain English. Help and support directoryHelplines, reporting tools and support services in the UK and worldwide.

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Most asked questions

Is sexting legal?

Yes, between consenting adults in the UK and most other countries. It's illegal if anyone involved is under 18, if the recipient didn't agree to receive it, or if images are shared or threatened to be shared without consent. Read the full guide.

Is it illegal to send nudes at 16 or 17?

Yes. Even though the age of consent is 16 in the UK, sexual images of anyone under 18 are illegal to make, send or keep. UK sexting law.

Is sending an unsolicited nude a crime?

Yes, in all parts of the UK it's cyberflashing, with up to 2 years in prison in England and Wales. Cyberflashing explained.

What is the safest app for sexting?

Signal offers the strongest privacy, with WhatsApp's view-once feature a good alternative. No app can stop someone filming the screen with a second phone. Apps compared.

What do I do if someone is threatening to share my nudes?

Don't pay and don't send more. Keep evidence, report and block, use StopNCII.org to stop the images spreading, and report it to the police. Sextortion help.

Is it illegal to make a deepfake nude?

In England and Wales, yes, since February 2026, even if it's never shared. Sharing one is illegal in most countries. Deepfakes and the law.

Helplines and reporting

  • UK adults: Revenge Porn Helpline, 0345 6000 459
  • UK under 18: Childline, 0800 1111 and Report Remove
  • Worldwide, adults: StopNCII.org
  • Worldwide, under 18: Take It Down
  • Feeling overwhelmed: Samaritans, 116 123 (UK and Ireland, 24/7)
  • Every country and service: help and support directory

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