Friends make the world great

TELL YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS [TODAY!] THAT THEY CAN TRUST YOU IF THIS EVER HAPPENS TO THEM.

We are living in a digital world and mostly that’s really easy to navigate, but sometimes it’s really hard. Things can be weird and confusing, and when it comes to sextortion, we need to look out for our friends, look out for ourselves, and do our best to create digital spaces that we actually want to be in.

Support your friends

Start the conversation.

If your friend may be experiencing sextortion, share this with them:

“You need to know that if someone ever tries to use a photo of you to get you to do something you don’t want to do – I will be here for you, I won’t judge you, and we will figure it out together.”

Offer support to your friend, and help them. Don’t take action on behalf of your friend. Let them decide what they want to do. Imagine how it would feel, and offer encouragement.

Support your friend in taking action.

If your friend is a target of sextortion, there are key steps they can take. And the best thing you can do is support them every step of the way.

Download these steps

If you need help text "Thorn" to 741741

A trained Crisis Text Line counselor will be there to support you anonymously.

Stop sextortion before it starts

Tell your friends that they can trust you.

You can even help your friends before they need it, and right now is one of those times. Sextortion is uncomfortable, and people going through it are usually pretty scared to tell their friends. Your friends need to know that you’ll be there for them, even if something like sextortion happens. Tell them now — when everything is fine — and as often as possible.

Don’t forward pics.

This one is really simple – if somebody sends you a sexual image of somebody else, DO NOT share it. It’s not up to you to decide who should see their body, so don’t forward the image to anyone.

PROTIP: You might be considered legally responsible if you forward these images.

Understand the issue.

Learning about how sextortion happens and what to do to protect yourself is an important step in preventing it from happening in the first place.

Share the cat video.

Did this video make you laugh, but also teach you about something serious? Share it with all of your friends so they can be as informed as you are about what sextortion is and how it happens.

IMPORTANT! When you share it, let your friends know that you’ll be there for them no matter what.

#noshame #stopsextortion

Change passwords often.

If someone knows your passwords, change them immediately to maintain your privacy. Tools like lastpass can help keep your privacy, private.

Celebrate your friends.

Lift others up. Sextortion can lead to bullying and make people feel really alone. Instead, make your friends feel great by telling them what you think makes them unique and why you love that specific thing. You can also join a community of young people at NoFiltr and submit supportive advice for youth navigating risky situations on the internet.