Glossary/Privacy & Legal/Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII)

what is revenge porn

What is Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII)?

Non-consensual intimate images (NCII), often referred to as revenge porn, is the distribution of private sexual images or videos without the subject's consent. This is a form of sexual abuse and is illegal in most U.S. states and many countries. It includes images that were originally shared consensually within a relationship.

Why It Matters for Families

Teens who share intimate images with romantic partners — even trusting partners — face real risk that those images will be shared without consent if the relationship ends. The psychological harm is severe and the content can be nearly impossible to fully remove from the internet.

Warning Signs to Watch For

  • 1Has shared or is considering sharing intimate images with a romantic partner
  • 2Is being pressured to share intimate images
  • 3Receives threats involving intimate images

What You Can Do

Teach the rule clearly: intimate images shared digitally can never be fully controlled. If NCII has been shared, report to the platform's trust and safety team immediately. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (cybercivilrights.org) provides resources including help getting content removed. File a police report — this is a crime in most jurisdictions.

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Related Terms

Sextortion
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail in which someone threatens to share sexual images or videos of a person unless they comply with demands — typically for more explicit content, money, or other favors. It can follow from a romantic deception or from hacking private images.
Sexting
Sexting refers to sending or receiving sexually explicit messages, images, or videos via electronic devices. Among teenagers, it has legal implications — in many jurisdictions, sharing explicit images of minors constitutes distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) regardless of whether the minor consented to taking the image.
Online Predators
Online predators are adults who use the internet to target and exploit minors, typically through social media, gaming platforms, or messaging apps. They often use deception — pretending to be peers or romantic interests — and build trust through a gradual process called grooming before attempting to exploit children.
Digital Footprint
A digital footprint is the trail of data left behind whenever someone uses the internet — including posts, photos, comments, search history, location data, and account activity. Some parts are active (things you intentionally share) and others are passive (data collected by apps and websites in the background).
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