People who've sent nudes fear they could be leaked, both men and women keep naked pics, says survey

It might be tempting to send those nudes in the moment, but are you sure they won't get to the wrong eyes?

According to a new survey by OnePoll in partnership with Avast Photo Vault, the average American has accidentally sent six intimate messages or photos to the wrong person.

A survey of 2 000 Americans — split evenly by gender and age — examined their thoughts and views on intimate photos.

Perhaps this survey will help you make better judgement the next time you send a 'sexy' photo of yourself. 

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The survey reveals that a third of participants had sent nudes, but most fear them being leaked. The majority of those respondents (73%) do so as often as once a month. 

And 80% of respondents worry that their intimate photos could fall into the wrong hands. An equal number of men and women, 39%, said they keep intimate photos of themselves on their devices. 

Nearly a quarter of them who shared intimate photos found that they were leaked or shared without permission. 

Other respondents (32%) admit they are unsure how to send an intimate photo safely. 

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An intimacy expert and sexologist, Shan Boodram, says, “It can be a healthy expression between you and your partner. Here’s a piece of advice: before you even think about sending those photos, create a code of trust with the person you’re sharing them with and have an open conversation to ensure privacy on both sides.

“Be aware of how to securely share and send photos.”

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Some social media apps have made the sharing of images or videos more private by allowing for the content to be played once.

Privacy and security expert at Avast Emma McGowan notes: “We don’t see intimate photo sharing as a fad or trend, but as part of our ever-expanding digital lives, so the need for critical online security measures is more important than ever. People need to consider a digital shoebox for this content."