Do you know the law when it comes to the age of consent and viewing sexual content?
The law is confusing, especially when it comes to the age of consent! So we’ve create a short guide to make it easier for you to understand.
It’s illegal to create, make or share sexual images or content of under 18’s. #NoIfsNoButs
This is where it gets confusing. You’re legally allowed to have sex from the age of 16, but its illegal to create, make or share sexual content of anyone under the age of 18. So, if you’re 16 and you’re sexually active that’s fine, but if you take a naked picture of yourself or someone else under 18 you are braking the law and could face a prison sentence.
You can be prosecuted for viewing sexual content of under 18’s.
You can be prosecuted for knowingly viewing illegal sexual content of individuals under the age of 18. If you accidentally come across some illegal sexual content you should report it immediately.
Report it!
You should always report illegal sexual content immediately. You can report illegal content anonymously on the Internet Watch Foundation website, all you need to do is paste in the URL of the page containing illegal content. By reporting illegal you’re protecting yourself and the young people in these illegal images and videos.
