The 30-second legal check
Are you 18 or over?
Under 18s can't legally send sexual images of themselves, even to a boyfriend or girlfriend their own age.
Is the person you're sending to 18 or over?
If you're an adult, sending sexual content to anyone under 18 is a serious crime. If you're not sure of their age, don't send it.
Have they clearly said they want it?
"Send me something" or "yes please" is consent. Silence, matching on an app, or flirting isn't consent to explicit images.
Is everyone in the image you, or an adult who agreed to it being sent?
You can't send someone else's image without their consent, even if they sent it to you.
Is it real, not a fake of someone else?
Fake or AI nudes of real people are increasingly illegal to make or share.
Is it free of threats, pressure or demands?
Sexting must be something both of you want, with nothing demanded in return.
Legal for adults
- Flirty, sexual or explicit messages with another adult who's enjoying the conversation
- Nudes or videos of yourself, sent to an adult who has asked for or agreed to them
- Images of you and a consenting adult partner, if they've agreed to them being sent to that person
- Voice notes and video calls with a consenting adult
- Keeping images someone sent you, for your own private use (but delete them if they ask)
- Mainstream adult content you have the right to share, sent to someone who wants it
Illegal, or likely to be illegal
| Don't send | Why | More |
|---|---|---|
| Any sexual image of a person under 18, including yourself if you're under 18 | Child sexual abuse material in every country we cover. Saving one you received is also an offence. | Law overview |
| Explicit images to someone who hasn't agreed | Cyberflashing is a specific crime across the UK and in many other places, and harassment elsewhere. | Cyberflashing |
| Someone else's nudes, unless they've clearly consented to that | Intimate image abuse. A crime everywhere we cover, whatever your reason. | Image abuse |
| Fake or AI-generated nudes of a real person | Sharing them is a crime in most countries we cover. Creating them is a crime in England and Wales and some Australian states. | Deepfakes |
| Threats to share images, or demands for money or more pics | A crime in its own right, and blackmail or extortion when there's a demand. | Sextortion |
| Images taken secretly, such as upskirt shots or recordings made without permission | Voyeurism and upskirting offences, plus new "taking" offences in England and Wales. | England and Wales |
| Extreme pornography (for example bestiality, serious violence, strangulation, non-consensual acts) | Illegal to have in the UK, even between consenting adults. | UK law |
| Screenshots of "view once" images, kept or sent without permission | A new offence in England and Wales under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, being phased in. Sharing it is image abuse everywhere. | England and Wales |
| Repeated messages after someone says stop | Harassment, even if the messages aren't explicit. | UK law |
Grey areas, explained
"They sent one first, so I can send one back."
Usually, yes, if the conversation is clearly heading that way. But consent to receive a topless photo isn't consent to receive a video of genitals. If you're escalating, ask.
"We're both 17 and it's legal for us to have sex."
The age of consent and the law on images are different. In the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, images of under-18s are illegal, even when both people are the same age and consenting. Police often treat this as a safeguarding issue rather than prosecuting, but the risk of images spreading is real. More on young people and sexting.
"I found it online, so it's public."
An intimate image being online doesn't mean the person consented to it being there. Forwarding a leaked image can still be an offence.
"It's just a joke in the group chat."
Sharing an intimate image as a "joke" is still sharing without consent. In England and Wales, you don't need to have meant any harm for it to be a crime.
"It's my ex's photo. I'm in it too."
Being in the photo yourself doesn't give you the right to share it. You need the consent of everyone shown in an intimate way.
"It's anime, a cartoon or AI, not a real person."
Sexual images of children are illegal across the UK whether they are drawn, animated or AI-generated. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, drawings and cartoons are covered by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, and realistic fakes are treated like photographs. New laws also target AI tools built to generate child abuse material. Fictional adults are generally fine. Fakes of real adults aren't.
Need help right now?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK), 112 (Ireland/EU), 911 (US/Canada) or 000 (Australia).
- Images shared or threatened (adults, UK): Revenge Porn Helpline, revengepornhelpline.org.uk or 0345 6000 459
- Stop images spreading (worldwide, adults): StopNCII.org
- Under 18: Childline's Report Remove tool at childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111. Outside the UK: Take It Down
- More countries and services: see our help and support directory
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and depend on the facts of each case. We last checked this page on 9 November 2026. If you are facing a police investigation or court case, speak to a solicitor or lawyer where you live.