Sexting Info for Teens and Parents

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"Sexting in America" -- Part 3
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A 2009 poll conducted by CosmoGirl/National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy found:

  • 22% of teen girls and 20% of teen boys have sent nude or semi-nude photos of themselves
  • 22% of teens admit that technology makes them personally more forward and aggressive
  • 38% say exchanging sexy content makes dating or hooking up with others more likely
  • 29% believe those exchanging sexy content are "expected" to date or hook up
    - AND -
  • 77% of young people would be "very upset" if they had private photos or information shared *
* MTV Poll

What Is "Sexting?"
When people take sexually revealing picture of themselves and send them as text message attachments, it's called "sexting." And while experts differ on statistics, a recent study conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project confirms sexting is a teen reality that's here to stay. Kids "sext" to show off, to entice someone, to show interest in someone, or to prove commitment. The problem with that, is that the moment the relationship ends (and most of them do) someone is in possession of a highly compromising image that can be easily posted on a social networking site or sent around via email or text.

There have been some high profile cases of sexting -- including Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses, High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, who sent a nude picture to her co-star/boyfriend, Zac Efron, that ended up all over the Internet and made headlines. And in July 2008, Cincinnati teen Jesse Logan committed suicide after a nude photo she'd sent to a boyfriend was circulated widely around her high school, resulting in harassment from her classmates.

Common Sense Media®
Sexting Video
Talking About "Sexting"

Why does it Matter?
In a technology world where anything can be copied, sent, posted, and seen by huge audiences, there's no such thing as being able to control images. Even if a photo was taken and sent as a token of love, the intention doesn't matter -- the technology makes it possible for everyone to see your child's most intimate self. And in the hands of teenagers, when revealing photos are made public the subject almost always becomes the object of ridicule and name calling. Furthermore, sending sexual images to minors is against the law, and some states have begun prosecuting kids for child pornography or felony obscenity.

Fortunately, networks with large teen audiences -- MTV, for example -- are using their platforms to warn teens against the dangers of sexting. And the website That's Not Cool uses teen-speak to help resist cyber peer pressure. Hopefully, these messages will get through.

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