4 Ways to Avoid an Internet Sex Scandal

By Kelsie Testa

My significant other wants me to take naked photos of myself, but I’m scared they’ll end up online. How can I protect myself?

In light of recent events involving Vanessa Hudgens’ twat, I’m apt to err on the side of caution. To completely avoid Miss Hudgens' soft pink error, the simple answer would be to just not take naked pictures. However, if you truly must undress for the camera, follow these golden rules.

1. Do not exchange photos with someone you’re not seeing exclusively. Your current hook-up doesn’t owe you anything, so unless you’ve agreed to be “in a relationship” or are pretty serious with this person, don’t start stripping. Without a solid connection or commitment, nothing’s stopping them from sharing the naughty evidence with everyone in their Pysch 101 lecture.

2. Set ground rules. In other words, make sure you know that the recipient of said photos or videos won’t turn around and vomit them up all over the Internet if your relationship were to end on bad terms. Store the images in a discrete location: delete them from your phone or save them in a non-descript folder on your computer.

3. Don’t tell your friends. It’s easy to let to excitedly let your buddies in on your little secret, but you run the risk of one of them asking to see the photos. While you may be tempted to prove that your sex is indeed the hottest, you’re violating your partner’s trust. The image is for your pleasure, and your pleasure only.

4. Crop out faces and distinguishable features, like birthmarks or tattoos. This way, if the images somehow happen land in the wrong hands (or IP address), you’ve got your ass covered – figuratively, of course. However, don’t think that you’re invincible just because your face isn’t in the photo. Cell phone photos enable sharing instant and simultaneous sharing on Twitter, Facebook, and email, which is dangerous. Hit one wrong button and the whole world will be able to see everything that your mama gave ya.

Not to mention that most camera phones automatically embed metadata – including the exact place and time the picture was taken – into the image file. This data is easily accessible to tech-savvy creepers. The nude photos of Vanessa that are circulating appear to be related to a ring of hackers who also allegedly hacked photos of Scarlett Johansson, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus. I know my boobs aren’t as famous or as sought-after as the jugs of these celebs, but this still makes me wary of baring all in front of the camera.

So, the major take-home point? If you trust that your partner will respect your privacy and only use the images for their intended purposes, sharing dirty pictures of one another is a hot way to maintain a pulsating sex life even when you’re not together. Just keep in mind the risks that you are taking, especially when technology gets involved.

Oh, and if you’re famous, you should probably just keep your clothes on.