My partner is 17, and I’m 18. I have a naked picture my partner sent to me on my phone. My friend told me that if someone else sees it I can be charged with having child pornography. Is this true?

Yes, what your friend told you is true. Naked pictures of people under the age of 18 are considered child pornography. When people hear the words “child pornography,” they may think of small children who cannot give permission to have their picture taken and might not understand what is happening. People may not think of someone who is 17 as a child. The reality is that, legally, the picture can be considered child pornography. There can be legal consequences for showing such a picture to someone else or for having possession of this kind of picture.

The best thing to do is to delete the picture and talk with your partner about why you think taking and/or sharing nude photos might not be such a great idea. This is also a great way to start a conversation about what other things you might share with each other that can make you feel closer.