For young people
If someone is threatening to share your photos
First: this is not your fault.
- People who do this are skilled at it. They do it to many people.
- Sending a picture to someone you trusted is not a crime. Threatening you is.
- There are people whose job is to help with exactly this, and they will not judge you.
Right now
Five steps
Stop replying.
You do not have to answer. Silence is allowed.
Do not pay, and do not send more.
Paying almost never makes it stop. It usually makes them ask for more.
Take screenshots.
Save the threats, the account name, and any payment details. Do not delete the chat yet. Police can use it.
Tell someone you trust.
A parent, carer, teacher, school counsellor, older sibling, or a helpline. You do not have to explain everything. You can start with: “Someone is threatening me and I need help.”
Use Take It Down.
It can help stop pictures or videos from being shared online. See the next section.
What not to do
- Do not send more photos or videos, even if they say it will end it.
- Do not delete your account or the chat before you have taken screenshots.
- Do not try to deal with it alone. Many young people tell nobody, and that is exactly what the person making the threats is counting on.
A tool that can help
Take It Down
Take It Down is a free tool run by NCMEC, a children’s safety charity in the United States. It is for pictures or videos of you that were taken when you were under 18.
- Your picture or video stays on your device. It is not uploaded. The tool makes a digital code from it and shares only the code.
- Participating platforms can use the code to find and remove matching pictures, or stop them being shared.
- You do not need to give your name.
It only works on platforms that have joined, so it is one tool among several. Reporting to the app or website where the picture appears also helps.
Someone to talk to
Who can help where you live
Australia
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Free, 24/7, for children and young people.
ACCCE: accce.gov.au/report
If you are under 18 and someone is threatening you with images, report to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
eSafety Commissioner
esafety.gov.au, to report image-based abuse and get images removed.
Take It Down
takeitdown.ncmec.org, for images taken when you were under 18. Your image stays on your device.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Crisis support, 24 hours, 7 days.
India
Child Helpline: 1098
Free, 24 hours, for children in difficulty. Run with the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Report to the Cyber Crime portal
cybercrime.gov.in has a section for crimes against women and children.
Take It Down
takeitdown.ncmec.org, for images taken when you were under 18. Your image stays on your device; only a digital fingerprint is shared with platforms.
Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
Sextortion is a crime. You can report it.
Tele-MANAS: 14416
Free, 24 hours, mental health support from the Government of India, in many languages. Also 1-800-891-4416.
United Kingdom
Childline: 0800 1111
Free and confidential for children and young people. You don't have to give your name.
Report Remove (Childline and IWF)
For under 18s: report a nude image of yourself so it can be removed. You don't have to give your real name.
Take It Down
takeitdown.ncmec.org, for images taken when you were under 18. Your image stays on your device.
Samaritans: 116 123
Free, 24 hours a day, from any phone. The call does not appear on your bill.
Anywhere else
Tell an adult you trust
A parent, teacher, or school counsellor. You will not be in trouble.
Find A Helpline
findahelpline.com lists free helplines for young people in many countries.
Take It Down
takeitdown.ncmec.org, for images taken when you were under 18, from anywhere in the world. Your image stays on your device; only a digital fingerprint is shared with platforms.
Report to the platform and your local police
Sextortion is a crime in most countries. Keep screenshots of the threats.
Find A Helpline
findahelpline.com lists free, confidential helplines in many countries.
Your local emergency number
If you are in immediate danger, call it now.
If you are in danger, or thinking about hurting yourself, call your local emergency number right now.
Understanding it
Why this happens
- The person often pretends to be your age, and seems friendly, funny and understanding at first.
- They usually move you to a private app quickly, then ask for a picture, often after sending one first.
- Once they have it, they threaten to share it with your friends, family or school unless you pay or send more.
- Often it is an organised group working from a script, and they are doing the same thing to many others. It is nothing to do with who you are.
If you are a parent or carer
- Stay calm, and say first: “You are not in trouble. I am glad you told me.” Punishment makes young people hide things.
- Do not pay. Take screenshots, report to the platform and the right service for your country (above), and use Take It Down together.
- Keep checking in kindly over the next few weeks. Support matters more than any single action.