Short messages on Bullying/abuse from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Homophobic bullying is when someone is bullied for being gay. 75,000 young people are bullied each year for being lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB).
When sexting goes badly, it can make you feel ashamed, guilty, embarrassed or anxious about what people might say. The sooner you talk to a trusted adult, the more likely you can stop the image from being shared further.
Be yourself – whoever you are, however you feel, whatever life has thrown at you. If things are tough, talk about it. Samaritans can be reached on 08457 90 90 90 or jo@samaritans.org .
Sometimes people send naked photos because they are made to feel guilty. They might say “I sent you a photo, so where’s mine?” or say that you “promised” them. This is emotional blackmail and can make you think that you ‘owe’ them when you do not.
You can block a particular ‘phone number from contacting you, on some mobiles. BBM and most messenger apps enable you to un-invite or block users.
When you block somebody online, it stops them from being able to contact you. You will no longer see messages from them and can stop somebody harassing you for images or bullying you.
A few common signs that may suggest a friend is being bullied include but are not limited to: anti-social behaviour, a tendency to isolate themselves, sudden changes in behaviour or a loss in appetite.
Blackmail is when somebody uses threats or pressure to try and make somebody do what they want. Trying to manipulate someone in this way is wrong and it is not your fault. You might think that they have all the control in this situation, but they don’t.
You have the right to say no and not be pressured into doing anything you don’t want to do. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.
At the time, sending a naked photo to somebody you like can seem like a really good idea and it is all too easy to overlook the potential risks.