Questions about consent in sending digital nudes

1 Jan

Can I get in legal trouble just for sending someone my own nudes?

Sending nudes as an adult to another adult is usually legal — the bigger risks are **privacy and abuse**, not the law. Where it *does* get legally dangerous is age. If you’re under 18 in the image, or the person you’re sexting is, that picture can be treated as **child sexual abuse material (CSAM)**, even if you took it yourself and even if you consented. In some places, both sender and receiver can technically be criminalized, which is messed up but real.If someone is using your age to threaten you ("You’ll get arrested if you tell"), that’s a manipulation tactic. They’re the problem. If you’re scared about age, leaks, or weird power dynamics, you can unpack the specifics with Gush and get a clearer read on your options.

Can leaked nudes ever be completely removed from the internet?

You can often get **a lot** of the damage under control, but "completely removed" is hard to guarantee. You can:- File reports with platforms for **non-consensual intimate images**.- Use tools like **StopNCII** and (if under 18 in the image) **Take It Down**.- Send **DMCA takedowns** if you own the copyright.This can wipe the images from major platforms and search results. The problem is:- People may have already saved or screen-recorded them.- Niche forums or encrypted group chats are harder to reach.So think in terms of **damage control**, not perfection: make it harder to find, harder to share, and harder for your name to be tied to it.

How do I know if a nude someone sends me counts as child sexual abuse material?

If a person in a sexual or nude image is **under 18**, it is child sexual abuse material — period. It doesn’t matter if they "consented," sent it to you first, or "look older." If someone sends you a sexual image and you **know or suspect** they’re under 18:- Do **not** save, share, or forward it.- If it’s someone you know IRL and they’re being exploited or blackmailed, talk to a trusted adult or authority.- If it’s random, block and report the account to the platform.Keeping or sharing these images can put *you* in legal danger and keeps the harm going. If you’re sitting with something like this in your DMs and freaking out, walk through the next steps with Gush — you don’t have to guess alone.

Can stress from leaked or threatened nudes mess up my period?

Yes. Your brain, nervous system, and cycle are all on the same group chat. Intense stress activates your **hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis**, which can suppress the hormones that trigger ovulation.That can lead to:- A **late or skipped period**.- Worse **PMS** (mood swings, insomnia, cravings).- More painful cramps or headaches.If you’re on hormonal birth control, you might not see classic delays, but stress can still wreck your sleep, appetite, and mood. If your period disappears for 3+ months (and you’re not on hormonal birth control), bleeding becomes extremely heavy, or your mood tanks so hard you can’t function, bring it to a clinician.If you want to ask the questions you’re too tired or embarrassed to Google, unpack weird patterns in your cycle, or just check if something is actually normal, you can always hit up Gush. Think of it like that one friend who knows bodies, boundaries, and bullshit — and actually answers their texts.