Sexting? What’s that?
One says that someone is sexting when they use the internet or their mobile phones to send and/or post sexual images, videos, or messages. Heaps of people also refer to sexting as sending ‘nudes’ or ‘sexy selfies’. So, if you are sending a picture of yourself or someone else who is nude, semi-nude or in a sexual pose you would be considered to send a sext.
What does the law say about sexting?
In Western Australia, sending, receiving, and storing sexual images of people who are under the age of 18 is illegal (even if the person has consented to it or if it is a picture of yourself!). The law considers these images to be child pornography or child exploitation material.
Is sexting risky?
Besides the legal consequences sexting can have, you need to consider that the pictures or videos you sent to someone else might not stay private. The person you sent the picture/video to might send them to other people or upload them on social media platforms such as Facebook. Where a nude goes after you sent it to someone else is often out of your control. So this means that your pictures or videos could end up anywhere and become permanently accessible to others.
What if I receive a sext?
If you’ve received a nude from someone else, it’s best to delete the picture or video from your phone or computer and not to forward or send it to other people.
I already sent sexts…
If you’ve already sent a sexy picture or video to someone else and are worried about the consequences that this might have – don’t panic and take a deep breath… Here is what you can do! First of all, delete the picture from your own phone or computer. Then ask the person you sent the image to to delete them and watch them do it, if you can. If you are still worried, confide in a trusted adult or contact the service you used to send the image.