What is it?
Sexting is defined as the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between mobile phones. The word is a combination of the words sex + texting.
A new term – “sexting virginity” has recently emerged in this context. A sexting virgin is someone who has not yet sent nude images of themselves using a mobile phone.
It is important to understand that these messages or photos are often originally sent innocently or without malicious intent. Imagine two high school students who have been going out for a while. The girl innocently sends a nude image of herself to her boyfriend and it’s all very exciting and feels “naughty”. A few days or weeks or months later, the couple breaks up, and he may be looking to get back at her. Or maybe they are still together but the boy just wants to show off to his friends. Either way – he simply forwards the nude image that was innocently sent to him on to his friends, and they forward it to their friends and pretty soon – the entire high school has seen it. As you can imagine, the effects of this can be devastating.
How widespread is it?
A December 2009 Pew Internet Research Center survey found that:
•4% of mobile phone-owning teens ages 12-17 say they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via text messaging
•5% say they have received such images of someone they know via text message.
These are fairly conservative numbers. Other surveys indicate that sexting is much more widespread. For example, a September 2009 AP-MTV survey found that:
•3 in 10 young people have been involved in some type of naked sexting
•1 in 10 has shared a naked image of themselves
•45% of young people who report having had 7 in the past 7 days also report at least one sexting related activity
•Nearly 1 in 5 sext recipients report they have passed the images along to someone else.
More than half (55%) of those who have reported sending them to someone else say they shared them with more than one person.
Why do kids to it?
According to the Pew survey, sexting occurs most often in one of three scenarios:
1.Exchanges of images solely between two romantic partners
2.Exchanges between partners that are then shared outside the relationship
3.Exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but where often one person hopes to be.
Other reasons may include: responding to peer pressure - cyberbullying or pressure from a boyfriend or girlfriend, revenge after breakup, and simply impulsive behavior, flirting, or even blackmail.
So sexting is out there, and it’s probably a lot more widespread than you thought. As a matter of fact, your 15 year old daughter may be sending a nude photo of herself to her boyfriend at this very minute.
The dangers of sexting
Sexting can have serious and in some cases, disastrous consequences. Reputations, social lives, and future academics and careers can be ruined as a result of nude pictures going public. There can also be serious implications for the victim’s mental health. Victims may feel humiliation, low self esteem, and some instances of suicide have even been attributed directly to sexting.
Many teens are embarrassed and feel regret once they realize what they have done during a momentary lapse in judgment. But once the image has been posted and starts circulating there is no telling where it will end up. And there is way to “take it back” or delete it.
The story of Jessica Logan
Jessica Logan was an 18 year old teenager from Ohio. Her only crime was sending nude images of herself to her boyfriend’s mobile phone.
When they broke up, he sent the images to other girls, who started harassing her, calling her a @#!*% and a @#!*% .
Jessica, an only child, became miserable and depressed and stopped going to school.
In May 2008 Jessica appeared on Cincinnati TV to tell her story "to make sure no one else will have to go through this again".
Two months later, Jessica hanged herself in her bedroom.
Legal implications
Sexting is serious business. In some states in the US child pornography charges (second degree felonies) have been brought against teenagers who have sexted nude images. Senders of sexts may be arrested, face charges and may have to register as sex offenders! Other states have amended their laws to deal specifically with sexting.
"Sexting"...What is it? What are the dangers? How to stop it!
Sexting is usually an impulsive act. Because it is so easy to hit that send button, kids will do it without devoting too much thought to the consequences. As a parent there are several things you can do to try to deal with sexting.
Prevention...
•Try to maintain open lines of communication with your children. This is always true, but when sexting is the issue, it is important they are not afraid to tell you if they receive inappropriate photos or are being pressured to send them
Ask your children...
?Has anyone ever sent you a sexual message or naked picture on your cell phone? Have you ever sent one?
?Has anyone ever asked or pressured you to send a nude or sexual picture?
?Is it OK to send sexual messages or images? If so – why?
?What do you think could happen to you if you send or forward a sexual text message or naked picture with your mobile phone?
?Will other people see the images and messages? Is that bad?
•Advise your kids never to take a picture of them that they wouldn’t want their classmates, teachers, family or future employers to see
•Encourage your children to think before they send. Remind them that once they have sent an image from their mobile phone it can very easily reach other kids at the school, a future employer or admissions committee at the college they plan on attending. And once it has been sent, it can’t be taken back. Same goes for forwarding a nude image that they have received
•Familiarize yourself with the legal aspects of the issue. Explain to your kids that they could be charged with possession of child pornography. If convicted, your teen could be labeled as a sex offender for the rest of his or her life
•Establish rules of conduct for mobile phones. It may be a good idea to require that your children leave their mobile phones in an open or common area at night, so there's no temptation to sending or receiving explicit text messages and pictures when you are assuming they have gone to bed. Explain the consequences for failing to comply with the rules.
After the fact...
Tell your kids - if they receive a nude picture on their mobile phone, they should:
•Report the fact that they have received a nude photo to you or to any other adult they trust. Try to understand why the photo was sent
•Save the message
•Avoid forwarding the message on to others. Explain that they may be charged with distributing child pornography, and explain what the consequences of this could be.
It may be advisable that you contact the parents of the other kids that are involved – in order to keep everyone out of trouble.
If your children have sent any nude pictures of themselves...
•Make sure they stop immediately. Explain that they may be charged with producing and distributing child pornography. Also explain the possible consequences this action could have for their social and mental well being.
