Childline have also created a new app called ‘Zipit’, that will generate a witty image for young people to share instead of an explicit one and will provide advice to young people who are being pressured to share such images. The app will also provide a direct link to Childline and say what to do if an explicit image becomes public.
Chris Lyttle MLA said: “We have seen a growth of ‘sexting’ in recent years, which can have a devastating impact on the lives of young people. By providing advice and reducing the pressure on young people to share sexually explicit images, we can help reduce this worrying trend.
“I would like to commend Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation for the work they are doing to combat this problem and the help they provide to those young people who can find themselves in the troubling situation when an image becomes public.
“I would urge young people not to engage in the sharing of explicit images. By developing apps like ‘Zipit’ we can reduce the pressures that young people may face to share such images.”
ENDS