Teens and Sexting
Sexting is generating sexually suggestive pictures and sharing these images using mobile phones or by posting them on the Internet and social media. These images might be photographs of yourself or someone elses’ nakedness or partial nakedness.
Do you know people at school who have sent or received a nude or a sexy selfie? Were they compelled or they had the intention of sending the picture? Do you know some sexual images have been shared to get revenge?
Sexting has become very common among teenagers in today’s generation. In a 2008 survey commissioned by The National Campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy, 20% of teens ages 13-20 said they had sent sexually definitive images of themselves to someone else. Additionally, 39% of teens had sent a sexting message.
Sexting includes sending
. Nude or almost nude photos or selfies
. Videos that show nudity, sex deeds, or elicited sex
. Text messages that suggest sex or refer to sex acts.
Reasons for sexting
. Some teens engage in sexting either by pressure or encouragement
. Some sext to brag to peers about the relationship
. Some sext as a way of flirting with a potential partner or to get compliments from peers
. Some sext as a dare
. Accidentally, many teens don’t know the webcams on computers or handled devices are in the operation.
a What to do when you are asked to sext
For every sexual behavior, you have the right to say “NO”
. Sexting is illegal
. Your images or videos might be shared
. It is nasty or a major violation of trust
Consequences of sexting
. Cyberbullying
. Harassment
. Ruined Reputation
. Humiliation
. Violation of privacy
. Blackmail
. Exposure to sexual predators
Signs of sexting in a child
. Spending a lot of time online or on the phone especially at night
. Pornography on your child’s computer or suggestive photos on his/her phone
. Your child receives/makes phone calls or text messages from people you don’t recognize or long-distance calls
. Your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen when you enter the room.
. Your child is using an online account belonging to someone else.
Parents talk to your kids about sexting in a relaxed manner, express your feeling in a conversational, non-confrontational way.
Also, seek help from a therapist or counselor.
