It all comes down to one simple rule: if you’re not absolutely sure the person (or people) in the photo wanted it to be shared, don’t share it.
The problem is that even when a rule is that clear, humans are great at finding reasons why it’s okay not to follow it. That’s called moral disengagement, and it can make teens more likely to share intimate images.That’s why as well as that rule, we need to directly counter the four main moral disengagement mechanisms:Denying that sharing an intimate image of someone does harm.They say: “It’s not a big deal to share a nude if other people have already seen it.”You say: Every time you share an intimate image, you’re hurting the person in it. It doesn’t matter if you’re the first person to share it or the hundredth.Justifying sharing an intimate image by saying it had positive effects too.They say: “When a girl’s picture gets shared, it shows other girls the risks of sending them.”You say: Two wrongs don’t make a right! There are ways to show people that sending an intimate image is a bad idea in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone. (And besides, how is it your job to tell someone not to send intimate images?)Shifting responsibility away from themselves.They say: “If I share a nude with just one person and then he shares it with others, it isn’t really my fault.”You say: When someone sends you an intimate image, they’re trusting you to keep it private. Sharing it with even one other person betrays that trust.Blaming the victim.They say: “A girl shouldn’t be surprised if her pics get shared after a breakup.”You say: Don’t use “boys will be boys” as an excuse, or say that a girl “should have known better.” There can be a lot of pressure from friends and peers to share an intimate image when you get one, but if someone sends you one and you share it without their permission, you are to blame.Victim-blaming is another reason why we should focus on telling teens not to share intimate images, and why we shouldn’t try to scare teens by telling them what might go wrong if they send them. Both of those encourage teens to blame the sender instead of the sharer. Instead, make sure your teens always make the right choices when someone sends them an intimate image.