Is it okay to post a photo of someone without asking?
Not without asking. Before you post a photo of someone, ask them first, and if they say no, don't post it or crop them out. Everyone gets a say about where their face shows up. Sharing private or intimate pictures of others hurts them and can be a crime, so never forward them, and tell an adult.
▶ Try it
Why it matters
Everyone gets to decide where their face and body show up, friends included. You'll practise asking first, accepting a no, and knowing what to do when a private picture gets passed around.
In 5 minutes you'll be able to
- Everyone gets a say about photos of themselves. It's about respect.
- Ask before you post. A no counts, no arguing.
- Never send on private or intimate pictures of others. Get help.
What you'll practise
Your picture, your choice
It's about privacy and respect. Apps have rules on this too, and posting a photo to humiliate someone can count as harassment.
- 🙋 Ask first
- Before you post a photo of someone, ask them. Every time.
- ✋ No means no
- If someone says no, you don't post it. You don't need to ask why either.
- 🚫 Private pictures stay private
- Sending on photos of others in their underwear, naked or in embarrassing moments hurts them and can be a crime. Even between friends.
Post, ask or don't?
You want to share these. Where does each one go?
- A drawing of a dragon you made yourself → Fine to post
- A group selfie from the class trip → Ask first
- Your little brother asleep on the sofa → Ask first
- Chloe laughing at the sleepover → Ask first
- A photo Sam already said no to → Don't post or send
- A private photo someone sent only to you → Don't post or send
Ask, listen, decide
Short scenes. What's right?
You took a funny group photo at Sophie's birthday. You want to put it on your story.
- Ask the group first: “Can I post this?” (Answer)
- Just post it, it was a great day
Leo says: “Nah, I look stupid in that one.” What do you do?
- I don't post it, or I crop him out (Answer)
- “Oh come on, no one will notice”, and post it
- Keep going on at him until he says yes
Someone posts a photo in the form group chat of Hannah getting changed in the changing room.
- Don't forward it, don't comment and tell an adult straight away (Answer)
- Forward it so everyone sees how nasty it is
- Do nothing, it's not my photo
A photo of you is online without your okay. What can you do?
- Ask the person to delete it, report it and tell an adult (Answer)
- Nothing, it's too late now anyway
Remember
Ask before you post, and a no means no.
Always ask first and accept a no.
Key facts
- 7% of US teens aged 13 to 17 say explicit images of them have been shared without their consent. · Source: Pew Research Center, Teens and Cyberbullying 2022
- Sharing a sexual image or video of someone under 18 is against the law in the UK. · Source: Childline, Report Remove
- Report Remove, run by Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation, lets under-18s in the UK report nude images of themselves so they can be taken down and blocked from being shared again. · Source: Childline and Internet Watch Foundation, Report Remove (launched 2021)
- Most apps let people report photos of themselves posted without their okay, and posting a photo to humiliate someone can count as harassment or bullying.
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Questions people ask
Is it illegal to post a picture of someone without their permission?
It depends. In many countries there's no general ban, but apps let people report photos of themselves, and posting one to humiliate someone can be harassment. Sharing intimate images of anyone under 18 is a crime.
How do I get a photo of me taken down?
Ask the person who posted it to delete it, report it in the app, and tell a trusted adult. For nude images of under-18s, services like Report Remove and Take It Down help get them removed.
Should you ask before posting a picture of a friend?
Yes, every time. A quick “Can I post this?” respects their choice, and if they say no, you don't post it or you crop them out.
What should I do if someone shares a private photo of a classmate?
Don't forward it or comment, and tell a trusted adult straight away. Adults can help get it removed and support the person in the photo.
Related terms