My nudes have been shared
In short:
- Sharing an intimate image or video online without the consent of the person shown is illegal.
- ‘Intimate images’ include nudes, partial nudes, fake nudes, naked selfies and upskirting, as well as screenshots or screen recordings of private activity like having sex or going to the toilet.
- If someone shares your intimate image or video you can report it to eSafety and we’ll help you have it removed.
Content warning
Heads up: This page discusses nudes, consent, dating and pressure, which may be distressing for some people.
What is 'revenge porn' or image-based abuse?
‘Revenge porn’ or image-based abuse is when someone shares, or threatens to share, an intimate photo or video of you without your consent. It’s still image-based abuse if it’s a screenshot or recording of a live chat (sometimes known as capping), or a meme, or even a fake or deepfake that has been edited to look like you. Image-based abuse is never OK, and if it’s happened to you it’s not your fault.
Even if you send someone an intimate image or video of you, or agree to them taking one, that doesn’t mean they’re allowed to share it with anyone else*. Also, don't forget that if you connect with someone online your conversations or videos can be recorded without you knowing, and the things you share may be seen by people other than the person you sent them to.
Image-based abuse is also known as ‘revenge porn’ because some people do it to hurt a person who has ended a relationship with them, or threaten to do it unless they stay together. But there are other reasons too – for example:
- to blackmail the person shown
- to embarrass or upset them
- to get them into trouble
- to make them feel like they have to do something or stop doing it
- to boast
- to cause trouble for someone who was trusted with the image or video (such as a boyfriend or girlfriend).
*It’s important to remember: A person who asks for, accesses, possesses, creates or shares sexualised images of someone under 18 may be at risk of criminal charges – even if you’re both young and you agreed to it. Youth Law Australia recommends that you never take or share prohibited or sexual images of someone unless they are over 18 and you are sure they have said it’s OK.
Find out more about consent for sharing images and videos online.
What is an 'intimate' image or video?
What one person thinks is intimate can be different to what another person thinks. When investigating image-based abuse, eSafety takes the circumstances of each individual situation into account.
Images and videos are usually classed as intimate if they show:
- a person nude or partly naked – such as a naked selfie or topless photo of someone who identifies as female
- the private parts of a person's body – even if they have underwear on, including upskirt shots
- a person during a private activity – such as undressing, using the toilet, showering, bathing or engaging in sexual activity
- a fake intimate image or video – altered to look like it's them.
An image or video can also be classed as ‘intimate’ if it shows a person without the religious or cultural clothes or accessories they would normally wear in public (such as a hijab or turban).
What should I do if my nudes have been shared?
Finding out that your nude has been shared online can be very upsetting. It’s normal to feel a range of emotions such as anger, frustration and embarrassment, but try to stay calm and remember that it’s not your fault and you’re not alone – there’s a lot of support available.
Before you do anything else
You don’t have to cope with image-based abuse on your own. It’s a good idea to tell an adult you trust, like a family member or teacher. Even though it can be hard, talking about it can make a big difference. You can get a fresh point of view and work out what to do together.
Try to stay connected with your support person while you get more information and deal with the situation – you could show them this webpage so they understand more about image-based abuse and can give you ongoing help.
These are the next steps:
Help! My nudes have been shared
Watch this video to find out what you can do and how to get help if your nudes have been shared.
| Visual |
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‘Help!!!’ ‘My nudes have been shared.’ That’s illegal and here’s what to do. Tell someone you trust. Collect evidence like usernames, profile URLs, times and dates of when it was shared. Report it. eSafety can help get content taken down. Update your privacy settings. Get support and info at esafety.gov.au |
VIDEO: What to do if your nudes have been shared
Collect evidence
It’s important to get proof of what’s happened so the intimate image or video can be removed. Take screenshots or recordings showing when and where it was shared (but not of the intimate image or video itself, as this can be a crime). If it was shared on an app or in a game, which one? If it was on a site, what was the web address (URL)? What account usernames were involved? You can read our advice on collecting evidence, including how to screenshot on an iPad or iPhone, Android device, Mac or Windows.
Report it
You can make an image-based abuse report to eSafety straight away – you might like to ask your support person to help you fill out the report form. Our team is here to help you have the intimate images or videos removed quickly.
Image-based abuse is against the guidelines of most social media services, so if you prefer you can report it to the online service or platform – you’ll find links and other useful info in the The eSafety Guide.
If you’re concerned about your physical safety, contact your local police – or call Triple Zero (000) if it’s an emergency.
Stop further contact, tighten security and prevent sharing
Stop all contact with the person who shared the intimate image or video. You can use in-app functions to ignore or mute them, but don't block them until you’re advised to do so by eSafety or the police. You may need to collect more evidence first. It’s also a good idea to check your privacy settings to limit who can see your online information and contact you.
You can block your intimate image or video from being uploaded to some social media and other platforms. You need to have a copy of the image or video, but you don’t need to send it to the platform – they will create a digital ‘fingerprint’ (or ‘hash’) instead.
If you’re under 18, you can use takeitdown.ncmec.org – a free online tool that prevents your image or video being shared on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Yubo, OnlyFans and Pornhub.
If you’re 18 or older, you can use StopNCII.org – a free online tool that prevents your image or video being shared on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bumble, OnlyFans and Reddit.
Get more help
Experiencing image-based abuse can be distressing. You may find it helpful to use the strategies we recommend for managing the impacts. You can also find counselling and support that’s right for you.
Something has happened
‘Someone I’ve been seeing shared a video of us making out and now it’s going viral – what do I do?’
Remember, this situation is not your fault – sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent is never OK.
eSafety can help remove the video and stop it spreading – follow the steps for collecting evidence, reporting image-based abuse, preventing further contact and getting more help.
‘There’s a fake nude of me online – what do I do?’
eSafety can help remove the nude and stop it spreading – follow the steps for collecting evidence, reporting image-based abuse, preventing further contact and getting more help.
‘One of my mates got into my phone and shared a topless shot my girlfriend sent me – what do I do?’
Let your girlfriend know – it can be a shock to find out that an intimate image or video of you has been shared, so she may need someone else around for support when you tell her, to make sure she’s safe and not at risk of harming herself.
Encourage her to report it to eSafety – even if your mate deletes the original post, others may have already shared or copied it. eSafety can help remove those images as well. Help her collect evidence of where it was shared and when, as well as the usernames of any accounts involved (but it’s important not to screenshot the intimate image itself, as this can be a crime).
‘Some kids at school were laughing at an upskirt reel of a girl on a bus that one of them shared. Then they sent it to me as well, even though I didn’t want it. The girl didn’t even know it had been taken – what do I do?’
Reach out to the person in the video – if you know how to contact them. It can be a shock to find out that an intimate image or video of you has been taken or shared, so it may be best to ask a trusted adult to tell her, such as a family member or teacher at her school. They can help make sure she’s safe and not at risk of harming herself.
Encourage the person in the video to report it to eSafety – even if the person who took the reel deletes it, others may have already shared or copied it. eSafety can help remove those videos as well. You could give her evidence of where it was shared and when, as well as the usernames of any accounts involved (but it’s important not to screenshot or record the intimate video itself, as this can be a crime).
‘Someone shared a picture of me without my hijab – what do I do?’
Remember, this situation is not your fault – if you usually wear your hijab in public, a picture without you wearing it is considered an ‘intimate image’. Sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent is never OK.
eSafety can help have the picture removed – follow the steps for collecting evidence, reporting image-based abuse, preventing further contact and getting more help.
Last updated: 29/05/2024
