For parents and carers

A Parent's Guide to Sexting

Finding out your child has been involved in sexting is alarming, but how you respond in the first few minutes makes a huge difference. Here's how to talk about it, and what to do if something has already happened.

Last reviewed: 9 November 2026

If something has just happened

Stay calm. Thank your child for telling you. Don't look at, copy, forward or delete the image yourself. Find out what happened and who's involved, then use Report Remove to get it taken down. If an adult is involved, or your child is being threatened or blackmailed, report to CEOP or the police straight away.

How common is it?

Sending nudes and semi-nudes is common among teenagers, and it often happens within relationships or under pressure from peers. It's increasingly also driven by criminals. The Internet Watch Foundation and the National Crime Agency have reported record numbers of UK children, mostly boys, being targeted by sextortion gangs, and a sharp rise in AI-faked images of children. A child who sends an image is far more likely to be a victim than a wrongdoer.

What does the law say?

Making, sending or having a sexual image of anyone under 18 is illegal, even if it's a selfie your child took and sent willingly, and even though the age of consent is 16. But UK police and schools follow guidance that treats young people who share images with each other as needing safeguarding, not prosecution.

Adults who ask a child for images, send sexual material to a child or share images of children face very serious charges. See UK sexting law.

What to do: step by step

1

Keep calm and stay supportive

Your child may be terrified, ashamed or worried about losing their phone. Anger can stop them telling you the rest, now or next time. "Thank you for telling me. We'll sort this out together" is the best start.

2

Don't view, copy or share the image

Even with good intentions, copying or forwarding an image of a child can be an offence. Don't send it to the school, the other child's parents or the police yourself. Explain where it is instead.

3

Find out the facts

Who was involved, and how old are they? Was it shared willingly, under pressure, or with threats? Has it been passed on? Is an adult involved?

4

Get the image removed

Help your child use Report Remove or Take It Down, and report it on the platform.

5

Report if needed

Report to CEOP or the police if an adult is involved, if there are threats or demands for money, or if the image is being widely shared. Tell the school if other pupils are involved. Schools have clear procedures for this.

6

Keep supporting them

Check in over the following weeks. If you see signs of anxiety, withdrawal or self-harm, get help from your GP, Childline or a counsellor.

If your child is being blackmailed (sextortion)

  • Don't pay. Paying rarely stops it.
  • Help your child stop replying, but keep the messages as evidence.
  • Report to CEOP (ceop.police.uk) or call the police on 101 (999 if your child is at risk).
  • Use Report Remove to block the images before they spread.
  • Reassure your child again and again that it isn't their fault. Sextortion is designed to cause panic, and young people have taken their own lives under this pressure. Stay close.

If your child shared someone else's image

Take it seriously, but calmly. Make sure it's deleted from their phone and any cloud storage, and that they understand the harm caused to the person in it. Contact the school, which will follow its safeguarding procedures. In most cases between young people, police aim to educate rather than prosecute, but repeated or malicious sharing is treated more seriously.

How to talk to your child about sexting

Don't wait for an incident. Short, regular conversations work better than one big talk. You could:

  • Use a news story or TV storyline: "What would you do if someone asked you for a pic?"
  • Make it clear they can always come to you, and that you won't overreact
  • Explain that once an image is sent, nobody can control where it goes
  • Talk about pressure, consent and respect, not just the risks
  • Warn them about sextortion scams and fake profiles, especially boys
  • Tell them about Report Remove before they ever need it

Practical steps at home

  • Use the parental controls on phones, consoles and apps, and talk about why you use them
  • Check the age ratings of apps. Most social media requires users to be at least 13
  • Encourage private accounts and hidden follower lists
  • Agree where phones are kept at night

Help for parents

  • NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (adults worried about a child)
  • CEOP: ceop.police.uk
  • Thinkuknow: CEOP's education site for parents and carers
  • Internet Matters: parental control guides for every device
  • Stop It Now (Lucy Faithfull Foundation): 0808 1000 900, confidential advice if you're worried about a child's or adult's sexual behaviour

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).

More for young people and parents

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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