The Norwegian Safer Internet Centre produced two articles for SID 2025: one to parents and one to young people. Read more about what the SIC has to say to young people wondering about reporting content online.
Have you received images or videos that you wish you hadn’t seen? We explain how to report harmful content and why you should do this.
Have you received violent videos on social media? Or have you received a nude image in a direct message (DM) or a group, without asking for it?
The Norwegian Penal Code states that this is illegal. It is therefore important that you report this when it happens.
The person you are reporting will not know it was you
When you report a photo, video, message or profile on a social media platform, the person you are reporting will not know that it was you who reported them.
The platform receives the report and evaluates whether the content or behaviour violates their guidelines.
If it does, the person may receive a warning, temporary restrictions or a ban, depending on the severity.
Inform the police’s online unit about illegal content
If you receive illegal content, such as nude images or violent videos, it is important to act:
- Report the sender to the platform and block them: Take a screenshot if possible, and keep the image/video/message if it can be used as evidence. If not, delete the content from your phone.
- Inform the police: The police have a dedicated online unit that is there to provide advice and help. You can contact them through their social media channels. See where you can contact the online unit here.
Make a difference by speaking out
Does speaking out sometimes feel pointless? You're not alone in thinking that. But it can actually make an important difference.
Platforms are dependent on receiving reports so they can remove harmful content and block profiles that share it. If you only block the sender without reporting them, the content may continue to be spread to others.
By speaking out, you help make social media safer, not just for yourself, but for everyone else as well.
On the police’s website you can read more about safe internet use.
How to report content on social media
What does the law say?
Nude images
- It is illegal to send sexualised images to anyone under the age of 16 or to someone who has not consented to this.
- As a general rule, it is a punishable offence to TAKE, POSSESS, or SHARE nude images or videos of someone under the age of 18.
- In exceptional cases, criminal charges may be dropped if a person is in possession of a nude image of someone who consents to them having it (e.g. a boyfriend or girlfriend), as long as they are close in age and development, and the person depicted is between 16 and 18 years of age. Regardless of this, it is prohibited to send the image to others.
- Even if the person in the image is over 18, it is illegal to share a nude image without their consent.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
- Read more on the police’s website.
Violent videos
- It is illegal to share offensive images, videos or audio recordings, such as videos of someone being subjected to violence or humiliation.
- Sharing such videos may be punishable by law.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
- Read more on the police’s website.
Do you need someone to talk to?
Kors på halsen is the Red Cross’s counselling service for children under the age of 18. Here, you can talk about anything, completely anonymously, with trusted adults.
You can choose whether you want to contact them via the chat function, phone or email. The service is free and available every day of the year.
Find the Norwegian SICs article to parents here.
Find out more about Norway's Safer Internet Day activities on their SID page on our platform!
Find more information about the work of the Norwegian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
The Norwegian Safer Internet Centre produced two articles for SID 2025: one to parents and one to young people. Read more about what the SIC has to say to young people wondering about reporting content online.
Have you received images or videos that you wish you hadn’t seen? We explain how to report harmful content and why you should do this.
Have you received violent videos on social media? Or have you received a nude image in a direct message (DM) or a group, without asking for it?
The Norwegian Penal Code states that this is illegal. It is therefore important that you report this when it happens.
The person you are reporting will not know it was you
When you report a photo, video, message or profile on a social media platform, the person you are reporting will not know that it was you who reported them.
The platform receives the report and evaluates whether the content or behaviour violates their guidelines.
If it does, the person may receive a warning, temporary restrictions or a ban, depending on the severity.
Inform the police’s online unit about illegal content
If you receive illegal content, such as nude images or violent videos, it is important to act:
- Report the sender to the platform and block them: Take a screenshot if possible, and keep the image/video/message if it can be used as evidence. If not, delete the content from your phone.
- Inform the police: The police have a dedicated online unit that is there to provide advice and help. You can contact them through their social media channels. See where you can contact the online unit here.
Make a difference by speaking out
Does speaking out sometimes feel pointless? You're not alone in thinking that. But it can actually make an important difference.
Platforms are dependent on receiving reports so they can remove harmful content and block profiles that share it. If you only block the sender without reporting them, the content may continue to be spread to others.
By speaking out, you help make social media safer, not just for yourself, but for everyone else as well.
On the police’s website you can read more about safe internet use.
How to report content on social media
What does the law say?
Nude images
- It is illegal to send sexualised images to anyone under the age of 16 or to someone who has not consented to this.
- As a general rule, it is a punishable offence to TAKE, POSSESS, or SHARE nude images or videos of someone under the age of 18.
- In exceptional cases, criminal charges may be dropped if a person is in possession of a nude image of someone who consents to them having it (e.g. a boyfriend or girlfriend), as long as they are close in age and development, and the person depicted is between 16 and 18 years of age. Regardless of this, it is prohibited to send the image to others.
- Even if the person in the image is over 18, it is illegal to share a nude image without their consent.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
- Read more on the police’s website.
Violent videos
- It is illegal to share offensive images, videos or audio recordings, such as videos of someone being subjected to violence or humiliation.
- Sharing such videos may be punishable by law.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
- Read more on the police’s website.
Do you need someone to talk to?
Kors på halsen is the Red Cross’s counselling service for children under the age of 18. Here, you can talk about anything, completely anonymously, with trusted adults.
You can choose whether you want to contact them via the chat function, phone or email. The service is free and available every day of the year.
Find the Norwegian SICs article to parents here.
Find out more about Norway's Safer Internet Day activities on their SID page on our platform!
Find more information about the work of the Norwegian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
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