The Dangers of the Teen Nudes Trade

Men have taken to trading nude photos of women they have slept with with each other online – this practice known as doxxing is spreading swiftly across the internet and can even leave women unaware they’ve been exposed until it happens to them, potentially disrupting their lives irrevocably.

Mira, 17, admits that when she receives an inappropriate photo on her phone, it takes her “a moment to pause and perhaps give a wry smile before blocking the person.” However, behind these visceral reactions is real concern for safety. Not only does she not wish to see her friends naked, she is concerned she could get in legal trouble if they do so. Most teens don’t realise that any image depicting an underage person nudising themselves could constitute child pornography and therefore constitutes child piracy – an offense punishable under federal law. That is because these images can often be sent anonymously or posted online on messaging apps or websites like Instagram; then police use the metadata associated with these photos – including where they were taken – to identify teenagers and potentially charge them with serious criminal acts.

But while these images may lead to blackmail, rape and assault for those depicted, their most tragic results could be felt by young girls who appear in them. Courtney Cribb, a school counsellor who works with adolescents, says many have come in suffering depression and damaged self-worth after having their images posted online.