Sharing nudes and semi-nudes
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Sharing nudes and semi-nudes – sometimes referred to as ‘sexting’ – is the creation and sharing of nude or semi-nude images, videos or live streams.
What you need to know
Children and young people often share such photos and videos through devices, online platforms and messaging apps.
Young people may share images of themselves or others with peers, people who they are in romantic relationships with, or people they don’t know. There can be many different motives or reasons behind the behaviour, some more harmful than others.
When incidents only involve under 18 year-olds situations will be considered on a case-by-case context, with some dealt with as a safeguarding and/or criminal matter.
If you become aware of a child or young person in possession of indecent images of either themselves or others under 18, then it's important to act so that they can be appropriately supported and safeguarded.
The sharing of nudes and semi-nudes of people under 18 with or by adults constitutes child sexual abuse and the police should be informed as a matter of urgency.
Welsh Government guidance
Training
Responding to incidents of sharing nudes or semi-nudes
This training module can support DSPs and senior managers within education settings to effectively respond to incidents of sharing nudes or semi-nudes. It accompanies the Welsh Government guidance, Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: Responding to incidents and safeguarding children and young people (2020).
Views from the experts
