Sexting

According to the child pornography laws, it is prohibited to possess or publish photos, texts, or videos of a sexual nature that show someone less than 18 years old. That includes selfies, videos, or texts that you create about yourself and that you have in your own possession, whether you share them or not!

Regarding sexts in writing, the law is less severe if both people are consenting, in accordance with sexual consent legislation. However, it’s still something that could have serious consequences. Be careful!

Not as common as all that! Most people don’t do it. We’re bombarded with sexual images in ads, movies, TV series, and video games. That can give you the impression that it’s totally normal to send nude photos of yourself. That might be true for some people, but not for everyone! Everything depends on what you feel when you do it. Most of all, don’t force yourself to do something under pressure from friends or other people you know.

In principle, it’s illegal to have sexual photos of yourself or your partner on your cell phone if you’re both under 18 years old. Furthermore, it’s risky to take such pictures because you have no control over the virtual world. The photos could end up in a stranger’s hands if your cell phone or computer is stolen. As well, your trusting relationship with your partner could change after a breakup or argument, or under pressure from friends.

Think about why you want to send sexts. Are you ready to risk having your messages or photos seen by other people?

You can delete the photo or discussion at your end and ask your partner to delete it too. If he/she refuses, you can try to convince him/her and explain your reasons. Nevertheless, digital activity always leaves traces and you’ll never be 100% certain that everything has been erased. So be very careful before sending this kind of message. Once it’s sent, you have no more control over anything that happens to it. You must have unshakeable confidence in the other person and be ready to run the risk of leaving a trace on the web. Don’t forget that there are lots of other ways to express your sexuality!

To reduce the risks, you can send a photo that doesn’t show your face, create a fake account, or use an app where your photo will only be available temporarily. But there are always risks. Once it’s sent by text or on the web, your photo might end up anywhere, and the people you know might recognize you even if you hide your face. There might be something in your photo you didn’t think of, such as a tattoo, a piece of jewellery, or the decoration of your room that shows it’s you.

When a private sext becomes “public,” people often blame the victim for what happened to him/her. They think that person took a risk and is responsible for his/her own actions. They say the person was wrong to take a nude selfie. They forget that it’s the person who distributes the photo who’s wronging the other one!

That person is acting without the victim’s consent, and his/her action is illegal. It doesn’t respect the private, intimate nature of sexting. It betrays the partner’s trust and puts the victim at risk of bullying or humiliation by exposing his/her private life to the whole world. It’s a serious act that can be punished by law.