If someone shares an intimate photo of you on Instagram
We want to help you find support and take action if you need to. We worked with the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative on this list of things you can do and organizations you can reach out to for support and advice.
Document the post
You may need a record of the post if you decide to take further action. We recommend that you take a screenshot of the post for reporting purposes.
Report the post
You can anonymously report photos that go against Instagram's Community Guidelines. If someone is threatening to share things you want to keep private (example: messages, photos, videos), asking you to send money or asking you to do something else you're uncomfortable with, please report their profile to us using the built-in reporting options. If you don't have an Instagram account, you can report things using this form.
After reporting a post, specially trained representatives from our Community Operations team will then review the image and remove it if it goes against our Community Guidelines. We then use photo-matching technology to help stop future attempts to share the image on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger.
Unfollow or block the person who posted it
Keep in mind that these options may keep you from seeing the post, but the person who posted it and other people on Instagram may still be able to see the post unless it’s removed.
Get support
These organizations provide support for people who are being harassed or harmed online:
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative National Helpline (844-878-2274): Free and confidential support for victims of nonconsensual pornography.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233): Free and confidential support available 24/7 for anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
- Without My Consent: Practical advice for anyone experiencing online harassment.
- Love Is Respect: Resources for teens to prevent and end abusive dating relationships.
You may want to contact local law enforcement to see if it's illegal to post things like this in your state or country. If you want to pursue legal action, you may need a screenshot or other record of the post.
Reach out to an advocate
- Talk with a victim advocate or social worker in your town or city. In the US, there are victim advocates in county offices, police stations, domestic violence prevention centers, rape crisis centers, sheriff’s offices and offices of state attorneys general. Victim advocates can help you gather evidence, figure out how to keep you safe and get a civil protection or anti-stalking order against the person harassing you.
- If you’re a minor, consider talking to a school counselor or administrator you trust.
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