When people break up, it can often be quite a process to purge pictures of each other from the internet. In today's world, these pictures are ubiquitous and they can serve as a constant reminder. This is often why people choose to delete pictures of themselves together from Facebook or Instagram.

But what if you and your ex had some explicit pictures that you took together? As long as both of you consented to it, there's nothing wrong with doing this while you were a couple. But now that you've broken up, do you need to go back through all of your old files and delete those pictures?

Remember that it's a crime to share those photos

It's not a crime to have the photos on your phone. If your ex asks you to delete them, the two of you can discuss it, or you can just do as they wish. But if you simply break up and never talk about it, you're not breaking the law just to continue having the pictures that they let you take.

However, you need to be very careful with what you do with those photos. If you show them to other people or share them online, that can then lead to criminal charges. This is especially problematic for those who are underage, but you can run afoul of the law at any age. Just because your ex let you take those photos does not mean he or she wanted you to show anyone else after the relationship ended. Because of this, it may be wise to delete those photos.

If you do find yourself facing charges that could have a big impact on the rest of your life, take the time to look into all of your defense options.