UK Law Regarding Sexting

[Amethyst]

Ahhh, understandable … good on you for being so concerned about it... but don't worry yourself unnecessarily, no pictures were exchanged/requested and it sounds like any 'sexting' was very early stage before you realised it may not be appropriate due to her age. Keep the messages just in case you need to protect yourself.

And, if it is relevant still, let her down gently, be honest with her and apologise if she felt things were getting a bit intense, and stick to it.

[Guest]

I have confronted her and also screenshot more messages regarding the fact she admitted she lied about her age and shouldn’t have. I’m still going to talk with this person as a friend but nothing more now.

[Amethyst]

Good, just be careful - I hope things work out for you both

[Guest]

Thank you very much for your help.

[Guest]

Apologies for bringing this back up, however I’m just concerned about something.I’ve decided to carry on talking to this girl since I found out she lied about her age, however absolutely no conversations since then have been sexual in nature. We’ve both decided to move on from it and are on friends only terms. HOWEVER, I am really concerned about one thing; now I know the previous conversations contained sexually explicit conversations and hints at sending nude pictures (although I was under the strong belief she was 18), is it illegal to still talk to this person as a friend now I know there has been sexually explicit conversations and hints at sending nudes in the past.

thank you

[Amethyst]

Even when over 18 nude pics aren't the greatest idea either, hacks, revenge posting and sharing etc - so maybe just don't go there. You stopped asking when you found out her age, you're staying clear of explicit conversations, no pics were sent or received so you're fine .... so going forward just don't ask and definitively don't send. Be friends, if a relationship builds, great, meeting up a few times ( publicly and safely) and seeing if you like each other etc - there's more to life than nude pics and sex talk.

... and tbh if you want that kind of shizzle there's plenty of legal porn about the place.

[Guest]

Thank you for the reply.

One more thing, I promise...I remembered she sent me a nude picture of a male (of unknown age) that her friend got sent. She sent it me as a joke but now I’m worried that it could’ve been an underage picture. I never saved the picture. Why would I? She did ask if I wanted to see it first and I did say yes as I wanted to be in on the joke.

[Guest]

Bump. I can’t find the previously mentioned picture anywhere. I even downloaded all my Instagram data and found nothing. I know she sent it though. I’m really worried about it. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Amethyst]

Probably not a joke for the young man having his picture sent about to all and sundry

Seems likely you deleted it if it's not in your data.

[Guest]

I agree. It wasn’t the right thing to do.

I assumed he was 18 or older as I believed the girl I was talking to was 18, but now I realised she was lying about her age, I’m extremely worried she could’ve sent a potentially underage picture. What should I do?

[Guest]

Bump

[R0b]

I think you are over worrying, if you've not instigated anything then you have nothing to worry about as long as you've deleted the picture from your phone. If you are so worried about it, get some proper legal advice on it.*