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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
sexual rumours or posts identifying you are spreading online, at work, or in your community

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move to a private, safer place, stop responding, and ask one trusted person to stay with you or help manage messages. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress; for a non-emergency, you can contact the police on 101 or online if you choose.

Do not do these things

  • Do not post a detailed public rebuttal while you are distressed, as this may draw more attention to the material.
  • Do not confront or arrange to meet the suspected source alone.
  • Do not pay, send more material, or negotiate with anyone threatening to share intimate content.
  • Do not repeatedly search every platform or ask a large group of people to investigate.
  • Do not make permanent decisions about your accounts, job, relationships, or community involvement while panicked.
  • Do not agree to a workplace or community meeting alone if you feel intimidated; ask for someone you trust to attend.
  • Do not forward sexual posts to other people unless this is necessary to obtain specialist support.

What to do now

  1. Go somewhere private where you feel physically safe. Silence non-essential notifications and ask one trusted person to stay with you, speak by phone, or help manage incoming messages.
  2. Check for an urgent safety issue. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress. For threats, stalking, blackmail, or other non-emergency concerns, you can contact the police on 101 or online if you choose.
  3. If it feels manageable, save one screenshot and note the relevant URL, account name, date and time, or ask a trusted person to do this for you.
  4. Report the clearest post or account through the platform’s reporting system. Choose the closest available category, such as sexual harassment, bullying, privacy violation, impersonation, or intimate image abuse, then mute or block the account where this feels safe.
  5. Reduce further exposure. Make accounts private, restrict tags and mentions, limit who can message you, turn off location sharing, and change your password if you suspect someone has accessed your account.
  6. If this is happening at work, privately contact a manager, HR representative, trade union representative, or another trusted workplace contact. Ask for one point of contact, limited circulation of the details, and temporary separation from anyone whose contact makes you feel unsafe.
  7. If this is spreading through a school, college, club, faith group, neighbourhood group, or other organisation, contact its safeguarding lead or responsible organiser. Ask them not to repeat the rumour and to route information through one named person.
  8. Tell one or two trusted people what support you need. Ask them not to forward the material, not to question others on your behalf, and to send any new information to the person helping you.
  9. If intimate images, fake intimate images, or threats to share them are involved and you are 18 or over, contact the Revenge Porn Helpline. If you are under 18, contact Childline or a trusted safeguarding adult. Report Harmful Content provides guidance for reporting other harmful online material.

What can wait

You do not need to decide today whether to make a public statement, identify everyone involved, begin legal action, leave your job or community, confront anyone, or permanently delete your accounts. A complete timeline, formal complaint, and wider conversations can usually wait until you are safer, calmer, and supported, unless an urgent safety issue or known deadline needs attention.

Important reassurance

You do not have to disprove a sexual rumour to everyone. Being identified in sexual gossip or posts does not make you responsible for what other people chose to publish or repeat. You can handle one platform, workplace contact, or support conversation at a time, and you can choose who is told.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate steps to reduce exposure, protect your safety, and obtain support. Later decisions about workplace procedures, police contact, content removal, or legal options may require specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, employment, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Contact emergency services if anyone is in immediate danger, and seek specialist support for advice based on your age, location, and circumstances.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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