Education and Child Matters

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Sexting

 

WHAT IS SEXTING?

Sexting is a relatively new activity which has arisen in the digital age and gained traction as technology expands with more younger users. Sexting is carried out by children under the age of 18 years of age.

Sexting encompasses the following:

  1. Sending a sexually explicit text message. 
  2. Sending a provocative audio clip.
  3. Sending a naked or partly naked image or video. 
  4. Posting a naked or partly naked image or video on social media
  5. Live streaming a sexual act (videos or images) on social media, forums or on group chats.
  6. Sharing naked or partly naked images and videos with many others via technological devices.
  7. Sharing, posting or live streaming any other indecent image or video (please see below what is considered indecent)

Sexting is also known as nude image sharing.

WHAT ARE THESE SEXTING IMAGES SENT BY CHILDREN ALSO REFERRED TO?

‘Dick pics’, ‘pics’ , ‘nudes’

WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN INDECENT IMAGE OR VIDEO? 

The following can be considered an indecent image or video:

  1. Sexual acts with an animal
  2. Sexual activity where the individuals use violence to cause pain.
  3. Sexual acts with a child (an individual below the age of 18 years).
  4. Images or video of an individual masturbating
  5. Display of genitals or breasts through clothing including underwear. 
  6. Naked and partly naked poses of individuals.

WHEN IS SEXTING CONSENSUAL BETWEEN THE PARTIES INVOLVED?

Sexting is consensual when the following occurs:

  1. When naked or partly naked images or videos are shared by two individuals in a relationship where both parties consent.  
  2. When naked or partly naked images or videos are shared between friends and groups where all parties consent.

WHEN IS SEXTING NOT CONSENSUAL?

Sexting is not consensual when the following occurs:

  1. When an naked or partly naked image is shared, sent or posted without consent to publicly shame or distress an individual. This is illegal and a crime under section 33 of the criminal justice and courts act 2015.
  2. Where an individual has been coerced to share a naked or partly naked image or video.
  3. Sharing an image that has been digitally changed to look like an individual in a naked or partly naked pose.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 33 OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND COURTS ACT 2015

WHY WOULD A CHILD ENGAGE IN SEXTING?

  1. Peer pressure and to fit into their friendship group.
  2. Children could feel that it is an accepted practice and there is nothing wrong with it. It has been normalised.
  3. Everyone else in their friend group or class is doing it so they don’t want to feel left out or isolated.
  4. They could have been coerced, harassed or blackmailed by a person.
  5. To get the person asking for the images and videos to approve and like them.
  6. To prove their sexuality to their friends or the person asking for the images and videos.
  7. They enjoy it, sharing images about themselves makes them feel good and they want the person who they are sending the images and videos to appreciate them.
  8. Sexting is a way for a couple to stay close if they are in a long distance relationship.

SEXTING AND THE LAW

Under section 1 of the protection of children act 1978 it is a crime to share, show, have, or make an indecent image or video of any individual under 18 years of age whether by consent or not.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 1 OF THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN ACT 1978.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF SEXTING?

1. The images once sent or shared will be out there for the rest of a child’s life. Even if the person who has them has promised they will not share them, there is still the danger that the images or videos may fall into the wrong hands.

2. The images and videos can be used for blackmail later in life.

3. The images and videos can be used for revenge porn later in life.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR REVENGE PORN.

4. The images and videos could be shared between friends and at school causing shame and embarrassment to the individual concerned. If these images end up on the internet it could affect future job prospects and relationships.

5. The images and videos could end up being posted on internet porn sites causing huge shame for the individual concerned.

6. If an image or video ends up online, the individual can become the victim of sexual harassment especially if their contact details are also shared. 

7. Your child could have also shared indecent images and videos of other minors as well as their own. They could be breaking the law by doing this.

PLEASE REMEMBER YOU CANNOT UNSEND AN IMAGE OR VIDEO ONCE IT HAS BEEN SENT.

WHAT CAN A PARENT DO TO PROTECT THEIR CHILD FROM THE DANGERS OF SEXTING?

Sexting and revenge porn was not around when most parents were younger so it is very difficult to understand why a child would do it. As stated above it can be due to peer pressure or the fact most children have normalised it in their mind due to what their friends are doing and social media.

Talking, communicating and educating your child about sexting and revenge porn starts now. When you speak with your child, be calm, friendly and try to understand that they are from a different generation grown up with the internet and social media dominating most of their lives. What is shocking to most parents is often normal to them. Have an open discussion where your child feels confident they can talk and communicate with you.

Your aim is the following:

  1. You as their parent(s) are not there to judge them but to mentor them.
  2. You are not there to shame them but to understand them.
  3. You are there to gain your child’s confidence so they can trust you so they can inform you of things.
  4. To make them aware of the consequences of sexting and revenge porn and how damaging it can be even though it may seem like a bit of harmless fun at the time.
  5. It is important to make your child understand that an image text or video once sent cannot be unsent. What seems like a bit of harmless fun now can have grave consequences later in life. 
  6. If anyone asks your child for an indecent image or video they must inform you first. You will not judge them or shame them.

You can also do the following:

  1. As a parent you should regularly monitor your child’s social media to see what images and videos are being shared.
  2. Explain the long term future consequences of images and videos getting into the wrong hands. Right now future employers, jobs, and future relationships are not on your child’s mind.
  3. Talk to your child that they are not allowed to share indecent images and videos of themselves, as well as their personal details online with anyone. If someone is asking then they should inform you first.
  4. Discuss online dangers and how sometimes a person in a chatroom asking for an image or video can be someone different. If someone asks for a naked or partly naked image or video your child must inform you at all times.
  5. Explain that a boyfriend or girlfriend shouldn’t be pressuring your child to send naked or partly naked images of themselves as they can get into the wrong hands or accidently shared with the wrong people.

HOW CAN YOU REMOVE AN INDECENT IMAGE OR VIDEO OF YOUR CHILD FROM THE INTERNET?

Internet watch foundation – You can contact the internet watch foundation (anonymously if you wish). They are a charity that will help you remove indecent images and videos of your child from the internet.

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION

Childline – Childline has an online report remove tool which can be completed. They will also counsel your child and help contact the Internet watch foundation. 

LINK TO CHILDLINE REPORT REMOVE TOOL

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CHILDLINE – CONTACT US

NSPCC – Call the NSPCC and talk to them about your concerns. They will help and guide you about mobile and online safety, what to do if your child has shared naked images or videos and how to talk to your child about prevention. 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR NSPCC

SCHOOLS AND SEXTING

Whenever a child is caught with or sharing an indecent image or video at school, the school will follow the guidelines in their child protection policy and/or their safeguarding policy.

A school child protection policy will be found on their website or you can ask for a copy.

When it comes to sexting, the school will often do the following: 

  1. The teacher will confiscate the mobile phone or any device showing the images and videos. The images and videos can be deleted by the member of staff if they believe it is the right thing to do. If the images and videos constitute a criminal offence then the teacher will not delete the images and videos.
  2. The incident will be reported to the designated member of staff for safeguarding who has been trained to deal with such matters. This member of staff is often called the designated safeguarding lead.
  3. The children involved will be interviewed and asked to explain their actions and how they got hold of the images and videos.
  4. Their parents will be informed and asked to have a meeting.
  5. Any discipline that is appropriate to the incident will be administered.

If it is found that a child is in danger, a child could be or has been harmed or a crime has been committed and the situation is beyond the scope of the school then the school may do the following:

  1. Contact local authority child services. They will send a social worker to help the school deal with the situation.
  2. Contact the police.
  3. The images and video will be handed over to the police.

SHOULD AN IMAGE OR VIDEO ON A CHILDS PHONE OR DEVICE BE DELETED OR VIEWED BY A PARENT OR TEACHER.

In normal circumstances, whenever an indecent image or video is found on a child’s phone or device it should be removed and deleted. It should not really be viewed (after the initial viewing) and definitely not shared or transferred over to your phone.

Only when you feel that your child has shared images with a predator, your child is in danger or a crime has been committed then you should confiscate the phone or device and inform the police immediately for them to handle. 

WHO CAN YOU REPORT SEXTING TO?

You can call the police – You can dial 999 if you or your child is at risk or a crime has been committed. Alternatively if there is no emergency you can dial 101 or file a report online. 

LINK TO POLICE WEBSITE TO REPORT A CRIME ONLINE 

You can contact Crimestoppers – You can report a crime anonymously to crimestoppers. Their telephone number is 0800 555 111.

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CRIMESTOPPERS.

WHERE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?

You can contact NSPCC – If your child has suffered from sexting you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police. 

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US

You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline.  You can speak to them about your concerns that your child has suffered from sexting. 

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US 

You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY

You can contact VICTIM SUPPORT – Victim support is a charity that can help individuals who have been the victim of a crime. They have a free confidential support telephone line and live chat. They are independent of the police.

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR VICTIM SUPPORT – CONTACT US 

You can contact other organisations – 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.

You can read our help guide for where you can reach out to get help if your child is a victim – 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR WHERE CAN YOU REACH OUT TO GET HELP IF YOUR CHILD IS A VICTIM 

WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?

Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has suffered from sexting and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CHILDLINE – CONTACT US