Account for the relationship as it is now
Use a tone that fits the present relationship, not the closeness, authority, or access that existed in the past. For a message about how to apologize for tagging someone without permission, use this factual base: name the post, message, file, audience, and privacy impact as precisely as possible.
Ask without assigning an obligation
Explain what you hope for while making decline, delay, or a different format genuinely acceptable. Delete or correct what you control, notify affected people, and preserve evidence needed for a formal response. Make the immediate next step clear enough that the recipient can answer without reconstructing the entire history.
Keep the ending honest
Do not repost the harmful material inside the apology or blame the platform for your choice. Escalate intimate images, impersonation, account compromise, threats, and personal data exposure through platform and legal safety channels. Avoid future promises, guilt, flattery, or nostalgia that imply the recipient owes you access.