The police warn against sending intimate messages because sexting can quickly become dangerous!

As the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office writes, so-called sexting involves sharing intimate images or videos voluntarily online. A trend that brings with it many dangers. It is not uncommon for shared nude photos or spicy videos to end up in the wrong hands.

It becomes particularly problematic if the recipient passes the recordings on to third parties without the sender's consent. When passing on your own intimate photos or similar material:

  • Send images that are as discreet and anonymous as possible
  • Only by mutual consent

What to do if images/videos have been forwarded illegally?

Immediately contact the administrator of the website or social network through which the images were posted and request their deletion.
Get the police involved! The Internet is not a legal vacuum. Quick action is required, especially when minors are affected.

You can find further information and help for those affected .

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What exactly is sexting?

Safer Internet explains that “sexting” – a combination of “sex” and “texting” – sending and exchanging one’s own nude photos over the Internet and cell phone. Sexting has now become very popular among young people and has become part of a self-determined sexuality. The erotic images or videos are most often sent within a relationship or to flirt.

Even though sexting is often completely unproblematic, it can very unpleasant consequences if the recordings fall into the wrong hands or end up publicly on the Internet . If relationships or friendships break down, intimate recordings are often passed on to outsiders out of revenge or for blackmail , e.g. B. so that more photos can be sent ( “revenge porn” ). In this case it is also referred to as cyber bullying .

In any case, once such images have been put into circulation, there is virtually no possibility of stopping their spread . Even if photos in social networks e.g. B. if they are only shared with friends, it cannot be ruled out that they will appear elsewhere on the Internet . Once images have been distributed, they can resurface years later and harm those pictured (e.g. when looking for a job or in relationships).

Particular caution is advised in this context with the photo app Snapchat ! Snapchat is known for allowing you to send friends and acquaintances photos or videos that are only visible for a short period of time (1-10 seconds). Young people in particular like to send revealing photos . The photos are not really gone, but can be made visible again in various ways, e.g. For example, the recipient can screenshots of images or save them using special apps . Therefore: It's best to only send photos via Snapchat that you would also post elsewhere!

What many young people also don't know: Distributing and publishing erotic photos of minors is considered child pornography and is therefore illegal ( § 207a StGB - Pornographic representations of minors ). Since January 1, 2016, the consensual exchange of one's own pornographic photos or videos between two young people aged 14 and over has been exempt from punishment . That means e.g. B. that a 16-year-old girl is allowed to send her 17-year-old boyfriend a naked photo of herself. In this case, neither sending nor owning the photo is a criminal offense for the two of them. However, it is still forbidden to show this photo to others or forward it to third parties !

You might also be interested in: Involuntary sexting damages the psyche

Source: Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office
Article image: Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office


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