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Report
You can anonymously report images to IWF/Aarambh India.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 112.
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Photos and videos that you receive or try to send that may contain nudity are blurred by your device in selected Apple apps. Apple cannot access these photos and videos. You decide whether to open or send them.
Before opening a blurred photo or video:
- Ask yourself: “Do I know and trust this person?” If not, delete it.
- Tell a trusted adult if you feel pressured or intimidated, or if the photo or video is from an adult.
Before sending a nude photo or video:
- Ask yourself: “Is someone pressuring me to share it?” If so, don’t send it. Get help from a trusted adult.
- Remember that once you send a photo or video, you lose control of it. It could be forwarded or posted publicly, and someone could use it to extort you (“sextortion”) by threatening to share it unless you meet their demands.
- Never share nude or intimate photos of other people. It’s a betrayal of trust.
Keep in mind:
- Sending nude photos or videos isn’t necessary for a good relationship.
- Just because you trust someone now doesn’t mean you’ll trust them in the future.
- If you lose control of your photo or video, there are people and resources to help you.
- Sharing nude images of anyone under 18 may be against the law. It’s safest not to make, send or keep them.
Learn More
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To stay safe online:
- Be careful about interacting online with people you don’t know in person. They may not be who they say they are.
- Avoid sending or exchanging nude or intimate photos or videos, and avoid conversations that are sexual in nature, especially with adults or people you don’t know in person.
- If someone harasses you sexually or asks for nude photos or videos, save the evidence, report the content, block or mute the account, and tell a trusted adult.
- Avoid in-person meetings with people you meet online.
- Be honest about your age when signing up for apps that ask for it. Some apps have built-in protections for teens.
- Think carefully before sharing personal information about yourself, family members and friends.
- Use strong and unique passwords, and don’t share them. When possible, use two-factor authentication, Touch ID and Face ID.
- Know how to block and report posts, conversations or people that make you uncomfortable.
- Treat people respectfully, and don’t respond to mean or disrespectful comments.
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Grooming
People who want to abuse you sexually may start by befriending you to gain your trust. It’s called grooming. Be on the lookout for warning signs of grooming.
The person might:
- Try to establish a close friendship with you quickly.
- Contact you on multiple apps.
- Message you a lot.
- Ask you to engage in a live chat, video or voice conversation.
- Give you money or gifts and perhaps ask you to hide them.
- Attempt to isolate you from friends or family.
- Talk about romance, love or sex.
- Request nude or sexually explicit photos or videos.
- Ask you to hide the relationship from friends or family.
- Blame you for what’s happening.
- Claim that you will get into trouble if you tell anyone.
- Threaten to hurt you, your family, a pet or other loved ones if you say anything.
- Try to convince you to feel sorry for them.
If you notice any of these signs, remember that it’s not your fault. Get help from a trusted adult.
Sextortion
Grooming can lead to sextortion. Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to share your intimate or private photos or videos unless you do what they want — like sending money, sharing more photos or performing sexual acts. It’s usually done by online scammers, but sometimes it can come from someone you know. Sextortion is a crime in most places.
Steps to protect yourself:
- Criminals may offer to send you photos or videos if you send your photos first, but that’s just a trick to get your images and use them against you. Don’t fall for it.
- Never share a nude or intimate image with anyone who approaches you online, especially if you don’t know and trust them in real life.
- If they have your image, don’t send money, more images or anything else they demand. If you don’t comply, they might move on. Even if you do comply, they might ask for more.
- Save the evidence. Take screenshots or keep the messages so you can share them with law enforcement.
- Block them. Stop further contact.
- Get help. Talk to a trusted adult, report it to the police, and if it’s someone from school or work, tell school officials or the proper authorities.
- Protect your accounts. Use Apple’s Safety Check and the Personal Safety User Guide to lock down your information and cut ties with unsafe contacts.
It’s not your fault. People who try to exploit others are the ones breaking the law. Reach out to a parent, another trusted adult or support services. You don’t have to go through this alone — you will get through it.
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If someone is repeatedly mean to you or others online, that’s cyberbullying. Imagery containing nudity can be used to bully. It’s not your fault. No one deserves to be treated cruelly or made to feel uncomfortable.
If you are being cyberbullied:
- Stay calm, and don’t retaliate. Responding in anger can escalate and prolong the situation.
- You do not need to respond. If someone sends you an inappropriate image or content that makes you uncomfortable, you can get help.
- Ask the person to stop. If they don’t, block or mute the account.
- Save the evidence. Take a screenshot of the content. Report the content, and block or mute the account. If you think the person goes to your school, you can report the cyberbullying to a teacher, the school counsellor or the principal.
- Reach out for help. Talk to a trusted adult and friends for support.
If you’re aware of someone being cyberbullied:
- Keep cool. You can stand up for a friend, but never retaliate.
- Show your support. If possible, send a kind message to the person being cyberbullied.
- If the targeted person goes to your school, let them know you’re there for them.