Home » About » News » What's up with Sexting? What’s up with “SEXTING?”


“Rumor has it there’s a “sext” going around.” Though unfamiliar to some, these words have recently been included in teenager's vocabulary. Some parents like to make sure that they are staying up to date with the latest trends, especially when it comes to vocabulary. And “sexting” is definitely one of those words we need to familiarize ourselves with. What is “sexting” you might ask? Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. Parents need to be informed about this, so that they can speak to their teens and educate them of sexting's harmful consequences.

Though it takes only a second to snap a nude or semi-nude digital photo and send it through a cell phone text, the consequences can be severe, resulting in damaged reputations, criminal charges, and even the destruction of life. Once an image has been sent, it is at the disposal of others, with no way of retrieving it. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy did a study on teens and sexting and found that “20% of teens have sent electronically, or posted on-line nude or semi-nude pictures or video of themselves.” “25% of teen girls and 33% of teen boys say they have had nude or semi-nude images-originally meant for someone else-shared with them.”

Jessica Logan, an 18 year old teen from Cincinnati sent nude pictures of herself to a boyfriend. When they broke up, he sent them to other girls in her school. These girls harassed her, called her names and made her life impossible. It was so bad that she even got to the point where she feared going to school. Jesse, as she was called, had the opportunity to go on a Cincinnati television station to tell her story. She said, “I just want to make sure no one else will have to go through this again.” The interview took place in May 2008. Two months later, Jessica hung herself in her bedroom and took her life.
13 year old Ben Hunt from Falmouth, Massachusetts admitted that he along with five other middle school classmates exchanged semi-nude pictures of a teen girl they all knew. “I received a text from a classmate in school and then I had sent it to another classmate,” says Ben. Technically that can be considered possessing and distributing child pornography. Actually, here in Illinois there is a law which states: the distribution of a videotape or nude image of another person without consent and with the intent to damage a person’s reputation is illegal (House Bill 2537.) The bill - originally promoted to save teens from the consequences of sexting, also makes uploading nude images to the Internet a criminal act.
So where do we go from here? You may be asking, “what can I do as a parent, mentor, and family member to prevent the teen in my life from getting involved in this sexting revolution and keep them from experiencing these harmful consequences?” The Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy offers these helpful tips for you as a parent to employ in order to help prevent your teens from being caught in this sticky web:


1. Talk to your kids about what they are doing on cyberspace:
Just as you need to talk openly and honestly with your kids about real life, sex and relationships, you also want to discuss online and cell phone activity. Make sure your kids fully understand that messages or pictures they send over the Internet or their cell phones are not truly private or anonymous. Also make sure they know that others might forward their pictures or messages to people they do not know or want to see them. Not only that, but school administrators and employers often look at online profiles to make judgments about potential students/employees. It is essential that the child/ teen in your life grasp the potential short-term and long-term consequences of their actions.

2. Know who your kids are communicating with:
It is vital that you know who your children are spending time with when they leave the house. Also do your best to learn who your kids are spending time with online and on the phone. Supervising and monitoring your kids’ whereabouts in real life and in cyberspace does not make you a nag; it is just part of your job as a parent. Many young people consider someone a “friend” even if they have only met online. What about your kids?

3. Consider limitations on electronic communication:

The days of having to talk on the phone in the kitchen in front of the whole family are long gone, but you can still limit the time your kids spend online and on the phone. Consider, for example, telling your teen to leave the phone on the kitchen counter when they’re at home and to take the laptop out of their bedroom before they go to bed, so they won’t be tempted to log on or talk to friends at 2a.m.

4. Be aware of what your teens are posting publicly:
Check out your teen’s MySpace, Facebook and other public online profiles from time to time. This isn’t snooping—this is information your kids are making public. If everyone else can look at it, why can’t you? Talk with them specifically about their own notions of what is public and what is private. Your views may differ but you won’t know until you ask, listen, and discuss.

5. Set expectations:
Make sure you are clear with your teen about what you consider appropriate “electronic” behavior. Just as certain clothing is probably off-limits or certain language is unacceptable in your house, make sure you let your kids know what is and is not allowed online either. And give reminders of those expectations from time to time. It does not mean you don’t trust your kids, it just reinforces that you care about them enough to be paying attention.
At WHATS GOOD our desire is that you as a parent or concerned adult will remain informed and have the tools necessary to help guide your teenager through these critical years into Good Health, Good Choices and a Good Future.
Visit us at www.whatsgoodprogram.com with any questions or concerns.