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RELATED TO INDECENT IMAGES OF MINORS
Recent figures showthat out of the 107,000 reports of sexual offences made against children, more than half were committed by under 18s, and over 1 in 4 were related to indecent images of minors.
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UNDER 18 WHEN SENT FIRST SEXT
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UNAWARE OF LEGAL AGE LIMIT
ESET Think Twice research looking into the attitudes toward sexting and sharing intimate images in the UK reveals that a staggering 39% of individuals were under 18 when they sent their first sext, with 44% of respondents unaware of the legal age limit.
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THOUGHT IT WAS LEGAL TO SHARE UNDERAGE CONTENT
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THOUGHT IT WAS LEGAL TO TAKE INTIMATE IMAGES
Surprisingly, 20% of people thought it was legal to send or receive explicit content under the age of 18, while only 19% thought it was legal to take intimate images of themselves. This lack of awareness can lead to younger people unknowingly breaking the law and suffering legal consequences.
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IDENTIFIED BLACKMAIL AS THE BIGGEST RISK
The survey also highlighted that 3/4 of participants identified blackmail as the most significant risk associated with sexting, followed by bullying at 67% and revenge porn at 61%. These alarmingly high figures highlight the potential dangers that sharing this kind of content can lead to.
However, the line between legal and illegal sexting is not always clear. If underage individuals in a consensual relationship are sharing intimate photos, it is unlikely that either of them will be prosecuted. This blurry line makes it even more of a necessity to ensure that younger people are fully aware of the risks and legal ramifications involved with sending intimate images.
As under-18s navigate the complexities of modern relationships, on and off-line, it is important for them to have the information and support they need from an early age to make educated decisions about what they choose to share online and with whom. Parents can support their children to make safer choices online by initiating open discussions, exploring different features of certain apps and social media platforms together, and informing them of the risks and consequences that sharing intimate content might lead to.
