Is sexting legal in Australia for adults?

Sexting involves one person taking sexually explicit photographs and sharing them with another person via a digital device. Sexting between consenting adults is legal, however, until recently, sexting between people under the age of 18 years was illegal, even if both parties were consenting.

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Is sexting legal if over 18?

The age of consent to sex in NSW is 16 but the age of consent when it comes to sexting is 18.

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What is the legal age to sext in Australia?

Using your mobile phone or computer to send, take or download nude or sexual images (photos, videos and more) is a crime if the image includes a person under 18.

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What are the laws against sexting Australia?

It is also a crime to send sexts to people under the age of 16: The behaviour above is a crime called 'grooming and depraving young people'. You can be charged with this crime, even if you are under 18 years of age.

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What are three laws surrounding sexting?

It is against the law to take, keep or share sexual images by phone, email or online if: the image shows child pornography unless you are under 18 and an exception applies (see below); you are 18 or over and you are “grooming” (encouraging) someone who is under 16 to engage in an illegal sex act with you; or.

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Sexting and the law

24 related questions found

Can adults do sexting?

Sexting involves one person taking sexually explicit photographs and sharing them with another person via a digital device. Sexting between consenting adults is legal, however, until recently, sexting between people under the age of 18 years was illegal, even if both parties were consenting.

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Do you have to consent to sexting?

Respecting their bodies and personal values is important. Help them understand that it's important to get consent before sharing any type of image or video of someone else. Let your child know that sharing an intimate image or video of someone without their consent is a breach of trust and against the law.

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Is sexting legal in Queensland?

Sexting can be a crime if it involves people under 18, even if they have consented. In Queensland, it is illegal to make, share, request, access or have images or recordings that are offensive and show a person under 18 (or show someone who looks like they are under 18) in a sexual way.

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What are the risks associated with sexting?

Some risks of sexting include:
  • Permanency: you can't “unsend” a sext.
  • Blackmail: sexual messages could be used to manipulate you in the future.
  • Emotional health: if someone shares your message without your consent, it could affect your mental and emotional well-being.
  • Physical safety: you could be harassed or bullied.

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How does sexting affect mental health?

A new study has shown that sexting was associated with depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and compulsive sexual behaviors. The study is published in the peer-reviewed journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

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Can a 16 year old date a 40 year old in Australia?

If you are 16 years old and above, you can legally have sex (or do another sexual activity) with another person who is 16 years or older as long as you both agree to it.

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What age is sexting OK?

Sexts to and from anyone under age 18 are illegal.

This is true even if you are both under 18. U.S. federal law states that a minor cannot legally give consent to be in these types of images or videos – regardless of state ages of consent.

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What is the Romeo and Juliet law in Australia?

Similar age

If a person is less than two years older than a young person who is under the age of consent, it is not an offence to have sexual contact with them, provided they consent and are aged over 10. This is known as the Romeo and Juliet law. It has an equivalent in most Australian states and territories.

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What are 4 consequences of sexting?

Sexting can cause serious problems for teens. Not only can it lead to social embarrassment, but it can also lead to bullying and cyberbullying. It can also affect a person's career choices and can lead to “Sextortion” which is the act of sharing naked pictures with another person to harm them.

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Why is sexting so addictive?

Cybersex offers a distraction to cope with negative thoughts or problems in one's life. Unpleasant feelings such as stress, depression, loneliness, fear, and anxiety can trigger sexting. Sexting can then provide a temporary escape into pleasurable feelings.

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Why sexting is not a good idea?

They may share your sexts as a way to get back at you. Even if they don't share a private picture of you on purpose, their phone can get looked through by a friend, lost, stolen, or hacked and your pictures can be shared without your knowledge or consent.

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Is sexting cheating by law?

Courts Say Sexting and Cyber Sex are Not Adultery

Instead, generally one spouse simply needs to allege that there are irreconcilable differences or that the partners have become incompatible and that there's no hope for the marriage.

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Is it legal to record a private conversation in Queensland?

In Queensland, it's not illegal to simply record a conversation you're involved in (either over the phone or face-to-face) without the consent of the other people involved in the conversation, but there are restrictions on what you can do with the recording.

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Is it illegal to video someone without consent in Qld?

The Queensland Criminal Code

Section 227A of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to video record people without their consent in places where they would expect to be private, such as a bedroom, bathroom, or changeroom. When installing surveillance cameras it is important to assess how they are positioned.

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What should you do if you have sent a sext and regret it?

Here's what you can do if you send a sext you regret:
  1. Ask the person to delete your message and watch them do it.
  2. Talk to someone you trust like a friend, parent, counsellor or teacher Make a report to your mobile phone company if you're receiving unwanted pictures or requests.

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Why do adults sext?

Some people use sexting as foreplay for sexual behaviors later on; Some sext for the relationship reassurance they receive from their partner; and. Some sext their partner as a favor, with the expectation the favor will be returned later in a non-sexual way (such as a dinner date).

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Can a 20 year old date a 16 year old in Western Australia?

The age of consent laws in Western Australia are similar to those in most other states and territories in that they allow for sexual contact to occur between young people of a similar age, while prohibiting sexual contact between adults and young people under 16.

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Is it illegal for a 17 year old to date a 23 year old in Australia?

Dating and relationships

In general, there are no laws that say when a young person can start dating another person (but there are laws about doing sexual activity with another person, which we explain below).

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Can a 20 year old date a 17 year old in South Australia?

The age of consent in SA is 17. This means that it is against the law for anyone to have sex with someone who is under 17. For example, an 18 year old who has sex with a 15 year old.

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Is it bad to sext too early?

“Sexting early in relationships (or before a real relationship has formed) may be a sign of relational anxiety or someone who is not interested in a long-term relationship,” lead author and California State University, Monterey Bay, researcher Rob Weisskirch told PsyBlog, noting that — as Tinder users are quick to ...

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