How do I deal with an EMBARRASSING PHOTO someone posted of me online? 📸

Last weekend was amazing!

Man wearing loud patchwork outfit and thick framed sunglasses, dancing at a party with onlookersg GIF by J Balvin Now it's Monday and you take a break to check your social media.

Uh-oh! Someone posted a pic of you that you do not want people to see.

Your first reaction's like:

Young woman covering her face with hands. Photo by J Taubitz on Unsplash

But you have options!

Young man with cowboy hat GIF, looking up, then saying, 'I can fix that.'

Option 1: Contact The Poster

After you get over your initial shock, the best first step is to contact the person who posted the photo and ask them to remove it.

Or...

Text message: Jaye tells her friend that while Saturday was fun, she's embarrassed by the photo. Friend agrees to remove it.

Did you know?

Simply untagging yourself might not be enough because the photo will still be available on the poster's account.

Option 2: Be A Good Sport

This option only applies if the reason you're upset is that it's just not a great picture of you.

Before and after pics. Typical selfie- Jennifer Anistonl This pic: aging hippy man with hair like Jennifer's.

Post a comment to show you're a good sport.

"LOL not my best moment."

"Who is this lovely creature 🐸?"

"Wow, the fun really got to me."

Option 3: Report It If...

You're being harassed or bullied
The content is obscene
It's revenge porn

Report by contacting:

The social media platform
Your local police
School authorities if it involves harassment on campus

Quiz

Ana, a high school teacher, just realized that her friend posted a picture of her on Facebook from last week's Girl's Night Out. There are lots of wine glasses in the pic and Ana doesn't want her colleagues or students to see it. What should she do?

Be a good sport & post a funny comment.

Ask her friend to untag her.

Ask her friend to remove the photo.

Report it to the local authorities.

Did you know?

Each social media platform has its own system for reporting harassment or inappropriate photos (thecyberhelpline.com, "Dealing with online harassment & bullying").

Take Action

It's best to be proactive so that you never have to deal with embarrassing online photos.

Adjust your privacy settings to control who can see and share your images (scroll down to "Protect Your Privacy" in this Byte on digital boundaries)

Set your accounts so that you're notified when you're tagged

Talk with your friends about the importance of protecting your reputation online

Check out this Byte: How Am I Depicted Online

Contact The Cyber Helpline if you think you're being bullied or harassed online

Kid looking at computer, then giving a thumbs up

How do I deal with an EMBARRASSING PHOTO someone posted of me online? 📸

Last weekend was amazing!

Your first reaction's like:

But you have options!

Option 1: Contact The Poster

Or...

Did you know?

Option 2: Be A Good Sport

Option 3: Report It If...

Report by contacting:

Quiz

Did you know?

Take Action

This Byte has been authored by

Mary Ellen D'Intino