Intimate Pictures and Messages
Think Before You Share - It's Never "Just a Picture"
Sharing sexual pictures - of yourself or someone else - can have serious and long-lasting consequences.
Something that feels private can quickly become public, causing embarrassment, broken trust, or even legal trouble. It's never okay to send someone’s photo without their permission, and no one should pressure you to send a photo you're not comfortable with.
Once a picture is out there, you can't control who sees it or where it ends up.
The following guide can help you make informed, respectful decisions - and remind you that your body, your boundaries and your choices matter.
Chatting Safely Online
If you’re chatting online with someone—whether you know them or not—and something makes you feel uncomfortable, worried, sad, or anxious, take a moment to pause and really listen to that RED FLAG feeling.
Red Flags when chatting online
- Asking you to keep information secret
- Flirting with you
- Asking you about anything private
- Making you feel pressured to do anything
- Causing you to feel untrue to yourself
- Asking you to meet in person, or move that chat to a private one-to-one account (like Instagram or SnapChat)
Ways to respond:
- Save the evidence (Screenshot and/or use another device to screenshot/video record)
- Change the subject, make a joke, or say, "I don't want to talk about this"
- Log off or quit
- Ask a trusted adult for advice or help if you feel unsure or uncomfortable in any situation
- Unfriend the person or block them; create a new account, or report the other user
- NEVER plan a face-to-face meeting with someone you do not know unless you take along a parent or guardian
Contact
Lethbridge Police Service
135 1 Avenue South
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 0A1
Non-Emergency Phone: 403-328-4444
General Inquiries Phone: 403-327-2210
Email: General Inquiries
(not monitored 24/7)
Hours for public access:
Monday to Friday - 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Closed weekends and statutory holidays