Great question! For starters, if your friend or partner is worthy of your friendship, then they shouldn’t be pressuring you into doing something you don’t feel comfortable doing. If you tell your friend or your partner, “No, I am not comfortable doing that.” then you shouldn’t have to tell them again. A good friend or partner will accept and respect your response. They shouldn’t make you feel bad for saying “No” either! No one owns your body. You and only you can make decisions about who sees your body (if anyone at all), what they see of your body, and when they see parts of your body. If your friend or partner can’t support you in your decisions about your own body, then they simply aren’t worth being your friend.
Remember, it’s never a great idea to share photos that you wouldn’t want your parents or grandparents to see. For some teens, this might include photos of them shirtless with boxers or in a bra or panties. Even if you think you know who and where you’re sending your photos, they might end up in the wrong hands. Once your pictures have been sent (even through text messages or Snapchat) there is no way to get them back. It’s important to mention, that sending inappropriate pictures through text messages or social media may be illegal in some states. Rule of thumb, listen to your gut, if you think it’s a bad idea and one that makes your uncomfortable, say no. Your true friends will stay true no matter what you say.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.