When does sexting cross a legal line?

The internet and prevalence of cellphones have made it easy to stay in contact with loved ones and friends. While many people exchange harmless messages, there are times when messages may become sexual in nature. These are known as sexts and have become commonplace. However, there are limits to what you can send.

Who can you sext?

You should only send sexually explicit texts to someone who wants them. Sending them to an unwilling recipient or someone who is underage can cause legal trouble. The pictures and other media you send should be of you or someone who is over 18 years old, and you should only send pictures of other people if you have their permission.

Using sexts as a means to pressure someone in to doing something or sharing sexually explicit media of another person without their permission may lead to criminal charges. It’s best to avoid these situations because presenting a defense may be rather difficult.

You should never send these types of texts or messages as a way to get back at someone. Circulating sexually explicit photos of someone as an act of revenge can also lead to criminal charges, even if the person willingly provided those images to you.

If you’re accused of illegal sexting, child pornography, revenge porn, or any related activities, you should contact an attorney immediately. These are serious charges that should be treated as such because you may be facing time in prison, considerable fines or having to register as a sex offender. Learning your defense options early in the case is always beneficial.