WHAT IS SEXTING?
Sexting is sending sexually explicit messages
via cell phone or instant messenger. As technology has advanced and cell phones have the capability to record
and send photos and video, the practice of sending suggestive and explicit
pictures has increased, especially among teens.
Teen girls are slightly more likely to do this than boys and 11%
of the young teen girls (ages 13-16) admitted to sending suggestive photos of
themselves.
As you can see, this isn't something to panic over, but it is an
issue you may want to discuss with your kids.
WHY IS SEXTING A
PROBLEM?
For generation upon generation, young people and adults have
been exchanging sexually suggestive and explicit letters, messages and other
materials, so sexting shouldn't come as a big surprise. On the other hand, the
ease with which photos and videos can be propagated is a concern. A photo
shared between two people can quickly become a viral phenomenon. We have seen
this happen with various celebrity photos and sex videos over the past few
years.
·
Photos and videos sent
privately can easily be shared with others.
·
Once digital images
are out there, they leave a digital footprint, especially online. You can't
"take it back."
·
51% of teen girls cite
pressure from guys as a reason to send explicit messages, while only 18% of
teen boys say so. This is of concern where there is already a power imbalance
in a relationship or an issue with self-esteem.
·
Sexting is currently
illegal under federal law. It falls under the creation, distribution and
possession of child porn and is a felony offense. While some lawmakers are
working to change this, others are prosecuting both those taking the pictures
and those possessing them.
·
WHAT
CAN PARENTS DO ABOUT SEXTING?
The best approach to talking about sexting is to take a
non-judgmental and informational approach. Keeping the dialogue open leaves
room for your kids to talk with you rather than hiding things away. Remember
that the word "sexting" was coined by the press. Kids may have a
different name for it. Try some simple conversation starters to break the ice:
·
Have you heard about
this sexting thing? Do you know anything about it?
·
I was watching
TV/reading the news the other day and saw a story about some kids who got in
trouble for sending [use your own word here - suggestive, sexy, naked, etc.]
pictures to friends. Did you hear about that?
·
Can we talk about the
types of things you and your friends like to share online? I want to make sure
you're taking care of yourself and looking out for your friends, as well.
Rather than leading the conversation, make
sure you listen to your tween/teen. They may not agree with you about what is
and isn't appropriate and may have some compelling reasons why. Helping them
think about the possible consequences of their behavior and also the type of
image they'd like to represent to the world is one way to encourage them to
come to their own conclusions.
Source: http://familyinternet.about.com/od/computingsafetyprivacy/a/sexting_what.htm
