So You’ve Had Naughty Pics Leaked Online...
Chicago Boudoir has a strict, layered privacy policy that protects your most intimate photos. Unfortunately, there are people out there who aren’t as trustworthy. In the age of Grok AI nudes and easy internet access, bad actors might try to leak your intimate photos.
If you’ve had you “naughty pics” leaked online, it can be incredibly painful. Here is a short guide to all the things you should know. TL;DR the people who leak ANY private photos are criminals. All the shame should go to them.
First, Naked Isn’t Naughty
Taking beautiful, sensual photos of yourself isn’t a crime. Revenge porn is a felony. This is the first thing to keep in mind if someone leaks your boudoir photos or nudes. The only person in the wrong here is the person who betrayed your trust. (This is why our 100% female staff values our privacy policies over anything else).
AND it’s normal to feel icky and anxious about leaked photos. Truth is, our culture heavily shames women for their bodies. That has impact! In fact, one woman told us that years of being a nurse never translated to her being comfortable with her own naked body. Loving your body isn’t always easy. This is especially true when someone betrays your trust.
Practical Steps You Can Take
All this to say that your emotions are valid here. You don’t have to feel shame about feeling shame. What matters is how you move forward. It isn’t fair. AND there are some tangible things you can do to regain some control. Focusing on this can make the process less stressful.
1. Try Not to Panic
Note: feeling your feelings does NOT mean panicking. You anxiety might tell you that this needs to be fixed now, now, now. That could lead to some hasty, unhelpful decisions. Before you do anything, take a few minutes to breath deeply and calm your nerves. Cry if that feels right. You’ll need a clear head to make the best choices for yourself.
2. Build a Support System
The creeps who share a woman’s intimate photos WANT you to feel isolated and powerless. Remember, you are not alone! One of the most powerful things you can do is build a support system.
It doesn’t have to be everyone and their mother. Start by telling one trusted person. Someone who can listen to your story and stand by you. Then, if it feels right, you can invite more people to show support.
If you don’t feel comfortable sharing with anyone in your immediate circle, there are also organizations that can help. For example, the domestic violence organization WINGS supports woman through complicate issues like these every day. In fact, one of their board members shared her own story of abuse with us – it truly affects so many women.
3. Assess The Extent of The Leak
Not all leaks are the same. Depending on how the images were shared, you might be able to contain how much it spreads.
For instance, many social media sites and other adult content websites have strict rules against revenge porn. Why? Again, it is a felony! The owners of those sites do not want to be responsible for this crime. If your images were shared on those platforms, you may be able to get the photos removed completely.
And yet, this is the age of the internet. You can never know where something will spread once it has been illegally shared online. This is why Chicago Boudoir takes extensive measures to protect your privacy from the start. We NEVER post anyone’s photos without explicit, written consent (which should be the standard!)
4. Report It!
Speaking of talking directly to websites, please know you have every right to report this crime. In fact, you should! Reporting this abuse can help you regain a sense of autonomy and personal power. It can also protect other people in the future from the same abuse.
Reporting can look different depending on your individual situation. You could start by reporting directly on the website or social media platform you found the leaked images on. Sometimes that might not feel safe. So, you can also always report it to your local police department, the Digital Millenium Copyright Act takedown site, Google, the Federal Trade Commission, or anywhere else you think might be helpful. Even reporting to a single trusted friend matters.
5. Reflect on Your Digital Safety
You did nothing wrong. We want to shout it from the rooftops! That said, all of us can do things to improve our digital safety. After a betrayal like this, you could find it incredibly empowering to take steps to strengthen your online security.
Start with something small, like changing your passwords or setting up 2-step verification on important accounts. Remove all private documents, boudoir-related or otherwise, from work computers or shared devices. You could also create a new personal guideline for how you decide to share intimate photos with others (if you even want to share them at all).
Your Future is Yours
The photo leak was not in your control. AND there is so much about your life that you can still shape and nurture. In the grand scheme of things, that future is what’s important. Your future is yours no matter what pictures leaked online.
A journal prompt to leave you with:
If you could set aside all the feelings that hold you back for one day, what would you set in motion?