Sharing a picture of yourself takes seconds. You can even add a cute filter and before a minute has passed, loads of people who you may or may not know have viewed your selfie.
The social media platforms made just for sharing photos are getting bigger and bigger. Instagram has over 1 billion active users and there are 20,000 images shared on Snapchat every second!
Lots of people share photos of themselves regularly – like holiday snaps, silly selfies, or group shots with friends. Some people might think that sharing more revealing photos, like naked or semi naked (nude) pics happens all the time too. But that’s actually not the case – research shows it’s not something that most young people do. Although not everyone’s doing it, you might be thinking about sending a naked selfie, either:
- To a boyfriend or girlfriend
- As a way to flirt with someone you like
- To make your friends laugh
- Or because you feel pressured to
Whatever the reason, there are always risks involved, particularly if you’re not doing it because you want to. There’s always a chance that an image could be shared further, which makes it important to say no if you don’t feel comfortable.
If you have already shared something you’re worried about, it’s never too late to get help. Check out our advice on ‘What if I’ve already sent a nude image?’ below.
3 ways to say ‘no’
Saying ‘no’ is not always easy, especially if it’s to someone you really care about. There are a few different ways that you can say ‘no’ – choose whichever way you’re most comfortable with. Here are some suggestions for what you could say in different situations: