What is SEXTING? It is a coined word for sending text messages with sexual content, be it text or images, that will soon be showing up in the dictionary. Sexting is a sign of the technology affecting our society, for good or bad. Without being judgmental, technology affects all of our daily lives. Sexting is just one more example of how technology permeates our awareness.
Teen Sexting… a whole new way of flirting?
Is sexting a dangerous practice for teens? More than even any paper trail, digital communications are open for wide spread distribution. What may seem an innocent flirtation with a suggestive photo, may end up on the Internet. After a nasty breakup, a vindictive ex-partner may post the photo on the web.
Sexting may affect future job applications or college admittance. Teens especially seem to have no long term vision as to what will affect their future lives. With the age of Internet searching, our private lives have become open to everyone who can spell our names in a search. (They don’t call it the World Wide Web for nothing.)
Should there be legal ramifications to under-aged sexting? I think there is enough legislation out there that cannot or will not be enforced. Yes, sexual photos of minors is already against the law. It is considered child porn. But if the teen is taking their own photo and sending it, who is to be prosecuted? And what will you do with the teen to stop them?
What is the solution? As with most situations in life, education seems to me to be the most practical solution to any challenge. By educating and counseling our teens about the risks and consequences of sexting, we give them control. By the time they are teens they should realize all choices have results, and taking responsibility for those choices is what growing up is all about.
Ultimately we have no control over teenagers. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never raised one. It is futile to tell a teen what to do or not do in social situations. The best we can do is give them the needed information and encourage them to make wise decisions. We can only be a safety net for them. We cannot be there to make all their choices for them.
Do you have a teen with a cell phone? Are you concerned about the content of their texting or in this case sexting? What will YOU do about it?
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[...] stated in my previous blog Teen Sexting… a whole new way of flirting? trying to tell a teen what to do or not do is futile. The best you can do is to educate them and [...]
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