Do you send nudes?

What do you do?

You have the urge to respond because you want to feel accepted and avoid the label, “prude.” On the other hand, everyone will call you a “slut” if you do. It’s impossible to win. So, what will you choose?

First, you are not just a body. You are a whole and complete person with unique talents and gifts. You have a sense of humor and a personality. Nudes destroy that. A sexually explicit image of yourself treats your body like a disposable object.

Let’s be clear, you’re not a prude if you say no. Standing up to someone else’s demands on the other side of the screen shows value and respect. More often than not, women who send nudes regret it and those that don’t, rarely do.

In the groundbreaking NY Times article, journalist Nick Kristoff shines light on the reality of sexting…

In the eighth grade she developed a crush on a boy a year older, and he asked her to take a naked video of herself. She sent it to him, and this changed her life… He had shared the videos with other boys, and someone posted them on Pornhub.

At the time, Savannah was 14 years old.

Before you send a nude, think about what it might mean for you in the future. Will this be the only person you ever sext? What happens to those pictures after you break up? You’ve probably been warned before that nothing is ever fully removed from the internet. Sharing an explicit image of yourself can open you up to assault and abuse by more than just one person. If you’re thinking, “it’s just a little innocent fun,” picture your nudes on the web forever—or your future college professor seeing it. Yes, future schools and employers do check the internet to see what’s out there of you.