Teenagers need to know that pressure, threats and nonconsensual sharing are not their fault, and that they can ask for help without being shamed. Discuss consent and image safety before a crisis, using calm language and a clear plan for contacting a trusted adult.
01
Make the conversation practical
Explain that agreeing to a private interaction does not give someone permission to redistribute an image. A person can set a boundary even in a relationship, and gifts or threats do not create an obligation. Ask how the teen would respond if a friend were pressured, rather than demanding disclosure of personal experiences. Listen without turning the conversation into an interrogation. The goal is to make help accessible when embarrassment or fear might otherwise keep someone silent.
02
Agree on immediate help steps
If a threat or image-sharing incident occurs, prioritize the teen's safety and support. Do not ask them to continue the conversation to collect more proof or to send explicit material to family members.
- Stop engaging with demands and seek a trusted adult's help.
- Preserve appropriate nonexplicit details such as usernames, URLs and threat text.
- Use the platform's reporting route and specialist child-protection resources.
- Do not download, forward or request intimate images of a minor as evidence.
03
Example: a threat to share an image
A teen receives a demand for money after an online conversation. An adult can thank them for speaking up, help secure the account and report the threat. NCMEC's Take It Down may assist with eligible images taken when a person was under 18 on participating services. Follow its current instructions using an image already on the original device; do not download one to use the tool. It cannot guarantee removal everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Will telling a teen they will lose their phone encourage reporting?
Threatening punishment can make disclosure harder. Agree on supportive safety steps and explain any temporary account changes as protection, not blame.
Can someone who is now an adult use Take It Down?
Eligibility includes images taken when the person was under 18. Check the official guidance for the circumstances and participating platforms; the age when the image was created matters.
Continue with your next step
Related guides on this topic
Sources and policies
Check the current policy before submitting a request.
You do not have to figure out the next step alone.
Share the URLs and explain your concern. We will review the context and explain which options are worth assessing.
Request a confidential reviewOr call (307) 429-2531Educational information, not legal advice. Outcomes depend on the facts and decisions made by third parties.