Watching or sharing sexualised content with children or young teens in it is likely to be illegal because it involves, promotes and/or encourages the sexual exploitation of children and young people.

This content is often termed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) because it involves exploitative situations where children and teenagers can be coerced, threatened, or manipulated into performing sexual acts, or are abused on camera. CSAM is created illegally and often distributed by organised crime networks that profit from child abuse.

Even if a child or young person appears to consent or creates the sexual images themselves, this can still be considered CSAM because the images promote or encourage the sexual exploitation of children and young people.

Watching CSAM causes harm …

Even if you aren’t directly involved in making or distributing it, watching it fuels the demand for this type of illegal content. If people are viewing it, then there’s an audience for it – and that demand keeps the cycle going. Survivors of CSAM describe how knowing their abuse material is still being viewed can cause ongoing harm – re-traumatising them, increasing their fear, and creating ongoing anxiety about being recognised in public.

Watching CSAM also harms the viewer. It can negatively impact their sexual, social, and mental wellbeing – increasing safety risks both to themselves and others.

Bottom line: Even if you don’t personally create or share sexual content with underage people in it, watching it still contributes to the sexual exploitation of children – which is why the law treats it so seriously.

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is a term used to describe content that promotes the sexual exploitation of children or young people. It’s called both CSAM and CSEM (Child Sexual Exploitation Material) and includes images, videos, or live-streamed content (including AI-generated material), that shows real or depicted sexual activity involving children or young teenagers, and/or the sexual abuse and exploitation of young people.

Some people used to use the term “child porn” to describe this type of content, but CSAM or CSEM are more accurate terms because they reflect the fact that this content is created exploitatively.

CSAM is considered ‘objectionable content’ in New Zealand and is illegal to watch, share, or download.

Even though CSAM is illegal, you can accidentally come across it on a range of platforms like porn sites, gaming sites, social media, forums, or messaging apps.

Here’s the facts:

• Sexual content depicting children or young teens is likely to be considered ‘objectionable’ – even if it looks like the young people consented or created the images themselves.
• The laws around this exist to protect children and young people from being sexually exploited – and to stop the creation and trading of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
• Even if it might appear that someone has ‘consented’ – the reality is CSAM is created exploitatively, where the person was most likely pressured, threatened, or manipulated into performing sexual acts, had no choice, or their survival depended on it.

Bottom line – Regardless of whether coercion or abuse was involved, sexual imagery of children or young teens is likely to be considered ‘objectionable’ because it promotes or encourages the sexual exploitation of children and young people.

What about nudes? Check out Are Nudes Porn?

Images or videos that sexualise or depict sexual activity involving children or young teenagers or promote the sexual exploitation of children and young people are termed CSAM or CSEM (Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Material). These are considered objectionable content in New Zealand.

Seeing CSAM can be upsetting and confusing – and people respond in all sorts of ways. Some people feel shocked, disturbed, or disgusted, and others describe feeling anxious, guilty, or worried they might get in trouble legally.

If you have accidentally seen CSAM – it’s important to know you haven’t done anything wrong and you won’t get in trouble for asking for help or reporting it.

Here’s some quick tips on what you can do:

• Don’t screenshot, share, or save it – It’s illegal to store CSAM, even if you didn’t mean to see it.
• Take care of yourself – It’s normal to feel shaken, so take time-out to do something that helps you feel calm and safe.
• Get support – It’s not easy processing this type of thing on your own. Sometimes, the images can get stuck in your head, trigger confusing feelings, or leave you feeling anxious or afraid. Safe to Talk is there to help you process this type of experience. For tech advice, call Netsafe.
• Report it – It’s normal to want to block things out of your mind, but reporting CSAM can be really helpful. When images are reported, this can help remove them from the internet – and it may also assist online investigations of CSAM that are already underway. Even if you’re unsure of the person’s age, it’s still worth reporting – specialists can assess it safely, and all reports are taken seriously.
  Reports are made to the Department of Internal Affairs, and you can stay anonymous if you’d prefer. DIA doesn’t need to see the image, so don’t download or screenshot it – their site explains what information is needed (e.g., URL, etc.).

Worried about your response to CSAM?

Some people can have unexpected responses to CSAM. They might feel curious or want to go back to the images to make sense of what they’ve seen. Others who’ve experienced past sexual trauma can find the content confusing, triggering, or even feel compelled to search for more. And some people can also feel aroused – and have feelings of shame, guilt, or fear about this.

Here’s the lowdown…

Content that promotes or encourages the exploitation of children or younger teens is commonly called CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) and is considered ‘objectionable’.

Receiving this type of content, especially when you didn’t request it, can be upsetting. It’s important to know that you haven’t done anything wrong, you won’t get in trouble, and support is available.

Side note: If the image is someone’s ‘nude’, check out: Been sent a nude image you didn’t ask for?

The law takes CSAM pretty seriously – so it’s good to get the lowdown on what to do…

Here’s some quick tips:

• Don’t screenshot, share, or save it – It’s illegal to store CSAM, even if you didn’t mean to see it.
• Be kind to yourself – It’s normal to feel shaken, so do something that helps you feel safe and calm.
• Block the sender – Sharing CSAM is a serious and harmful offence that puts the receiver at risk as well. Block the person on your device and get some help (see below) with reporting what’s happened.
• Get support – It’s not easy processing this type of thing on your own. Sometimes, the images can get stuck in your mind, trigger confusing feelings, or leave you feeling anxious or afraid. Reach out to a safe friend or contact Safe to Talk – they are experts in this area. Netsafe can help you with any legal or tech concerns.
• Report the image – Reporting CSAM is really important. It can help remove images from the internet – and may also support investigations of CSAM that are already underway.
  You can report it here: The Department of Internal Affairs, and you can stay anonymous if you prefer. DIA doesn’t need to see the image, so don’t download or screenshot it – their site explains what information is required (e.g., URL, etc.). If you’re unsure of the person’s age, it’s still worth reporting – specialists can assess it safely, and all reports are taken seriously.

Sending CSAM can be a red flag – especially when there is other controlling, grooming, or manipulative behaviour. This can make it feel frightening to seek help, but remember it isn’t your fault, you’re not alone, and there are safe, confidential services available to help you.

What if a friend sent me the pic?

This can feel tricky. If you feel able, start by texting or telling them to stop. For example: “Hey – do not send me this. It’s CSAM and it’s illegal.”

Then consider the next steps. Sending CSAM is serious and can sometimes be part of a bigger pattern of unsafe or harmful sexual behaviour. We strongly recommend getting confidential advice from experts like Safe to Talk or Netsafe, who can help you decide what to do next. Reaching out for advice might feel difficult, but it could be the very best way to help your friend – and keep them, you, and others safe.

What if a family member sent me the pic?

It’s really important you get support. Talk to another trusted adult and/or contact the experts at Safe to Talk or Netsafe – who can give you confidential advice and support on what to do next. They are there to keep you safe – and can connect you to other services if helpful.

Firstly, here’s a legal lowdown…

CSAM (Child Sexual Exploitation Material) is content that promotes the sexual exploitation of children or young people. It includes any images, videos, or live-streamed content (including AI-generated material), that shows real or depicted sexual activity involving children or young teenagers, and/or the sexual abuse and exploitation of young people. CSEM is considered objectionable content in New Zealand.

Watching, downloading and sharing CSAM is illegal – because it involves the exploitation or abuse of children and young people. Sharing CSAM puts the person who receives it at risk, too, as they’re in possession of objectionable content.

If you’ve watched or shared CSAM, and are feeling worried, confused, or want to stop – help is available.

Here’s some things to consider:

• Getting help – Watching CSAM is serious and can cause significant harm. Whether you’re just curious, have only viewed it occasionally, or watch it regularly – the best way to keep yourself and others safe is to get some professional help. Contact Safe to Talk – who can talk you through options and provide confidential advice on next steps.
• If you’ve sent CSAM as a one-off – Netsafe can talk you through what’s happened and explain your legal options. Safe to Talk can also chat about what’s going on and advise if more specialised support might be useful.
• Specialist support – If you’re watching CSAM, or worried about your thoughts and fantasies around it, it’s important to go straight to the experts. Wellstop, Safe, and Stop offer free, confidential support for anyone worried about their sexual thoughts or behaviours. They understand that watching CSAM is usually part of a bigger picture and can work with you to unpack what’s behind it, manage it, and keep you safe and in control.
• Risks don’t go away on their own – The risks associated with watching or sharing CSAM don’t simply disappear. Deleted content can often be recovered, people can report concerns years later, and harmful sexual feelings usually don’t go away without support. Reaching out for help is the safest option long-term. Every situation is different too, so if you disclose what’s happened and seek professional support, this may be taken into account if there’s ever a future investigation.

Many porn sites promote ‘Teen’ or ‘Young looking’ categories – and there are some performers who look like teenagers. These are often actors who naturally appear younger (such as those with smaller bodies or no body hair), or they may be made to look younger by wearing items like school uniforms, braces, or pigtails. But because many porn companies don’t have great legal production standards, some actors could actually be under 18. In amateur or self-generated porn, where there are often even fewer safeguards, it can be even trickier to know the actual ages of the people in it.

Bottom line: There’s no reliable way to know how old actors are on most porn sites. If you’re unsure, it’s safest to steer clear of anything that looks like it might involve people under 18.