Take It Down

My child has told me their picture has been created to show their body in a way that makes them uncomfortable/bullied/hurt. The image has been passed around school and is now on various social websites. What can we do?

As parents, nothing matters more than keeping our children safe—especially in a digital world where images and videos can be shared in an instant and out of our control. If your child’s photo or video has been shared online in an inappropriate or exploitative way, you are not alone, and there is help.

What is “Take It Down”?

Take It Down is a free and secure service provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). It helps minors under the age of 18 remove nude, sexually explicit, or exploitative images or videos of themselves that were posted online—even if they were altered or AI-generated.

Best of all? You and your child can stay anonymous.

Why This Matters

Whether your child was tricked into sharing something inappropriate, was targeted by someone online, or had private photos taken without their knowledge, Take It Down gives you as a parent a path forward to get those images removed and protect their future.

How It Works – A Simple, Parent-Guided Process

1. Go to TakeItDown.NCMEC.org
   
   

   • This is the official site run by NCMEC.
     
     

   • You do not upload the image or video.
     
     

   • Instead, the tool uses a privacy-safe technology called hashing to create a digital fingerprint of the image from your device.
     
     

2. Generate a Hash (Digital Fingerprint)
   
   

   • You’ll select the inappropriate image/video directly from your or your child’s device.
     
     

   • The system creates a unique code to identify the image—not the actual image itself—and sends that code to NCMEC.
     
     

   • It remains private and secure. No one ever sees the image.
     
     

3. Platforms Begin Removing Matches
   
   

   • Participating platforms (like Facebook, Instagram, OnlyFans, and others) will scan their sites for any matching content and begin removing it.
     
     

   • As of now, over a dozen major platforms are using this tool to clean up harmful content.
     
     

4. Need More Support?
   
   

   • You can also file a report with the CyberTipline (through the same website).
     
     

   • Or contact NCMEC directly at TakeItDown@ncmec.org or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
     
     

What If the Image Was Fake or AI-Generated?

In 2025, the U.S. government passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a law that makes it illegal to share private images—including deepfakes or altered content—without someone’s permission.

This law:

• Requires platforms to remove explicit content within 48 hours of a valid complaint.
  
  

• Gives survivors (and parents of minors) the legal right to demand removal.
  
  

• Holds platforms accountable through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  
  

If your child’s image has been faked or altered and is being shared:

• File a removal request directly with the platform.
  
  

• Document everything: dates, screenshots, links, and conversations.
  
  

• If the platform doesn’t respond, file a complaint with the FTC or speak with a legal advocate.
  
  

You're Not Alone

It can feel overwhelming, scary, and even confusing—but you don’t have to go through this alone. These tools exist to protect kids and teens, to give families control, and to help erase what never should have been shared in the first place.

You are your child’s best advocate.
Take a deep breath, start the process, and know that help is just a click away.

👉 Visit TakeItDown.NCMEC.org to get started