With school starting right around the corner and interaction occurring more often between friends, the amount of sexting is going to be on the rise again!
If you are unaware what sexting is, sexting is sending sexually explicit pictures or messages through mobile phones.
It seems like only sexting happens with other kids No no no-couldn't be your darling angel could it? Well - yes, it could be! So here is some facts about sexting and ways parents can combat it. Also, how parents can stress the long term issues the teen may face from sexting. Parents can confront their children about the effects of sexting as long as the teen is approached in a relaxed, open dialogue situation!
First. here some statistics about sexting:
The percent of teenagers who have sent or posted nude or semi-nude pictures or video of themselves:*
- 20% of teenagers overall
- 22% of teen girls
- 18% of teen boys
- 11% of young teen girls ages 13-16
The percent of teenagers sending or posting sexually suggestive messages:
- 39% of all teenagers
- 37% of teen girls
- 40% of teen boys
Parents:
- If you have caught your child sending nude or sexually suggestive pictures of themselves, make sure to put an end to it immediately!
- Explain the legal ramification of sending or receiving nude pictures in regard of child pornography. It can be seen as a felony as well as possible registration as a sex offender.
- Stay CALM! Be SUPPORTIVE! LISTEN to their situation and why they feel it is acceptable behavior. Also try to discover if this is a cause of teen "romance" or could be potentially an harassment situation.
Teens:
- If you have received a sexting picture, DO NOT RESEND IT! You can be charged with distributing child pornography. Also, why would you send it on? Would you really want your nude picture sent to another person?
- It truly can ruin your reputation, friendships, and general happiness. (See story below...)
- If your boyfriend/girlfriend is pressuring you to send pictures this can be harassment. Any person who loves you will not want you to do anything that will make you uncomfortable.
Rose:
This is absolutely a true story. My younger sister sent a picture of herself in her underwear to a boy she liked who pressured her into doing so. He then sent the picture to a few of his friends who then told her friends about it. Her good friends stopped talking to her. Parents found out and did not allow their daughters to hang out with her anymore. She began cutting herself. The only way we found out is from my mom dropping her off from an orthodontist appointment and the counselor pulled my mom into her office to explain about rumors circulating around about Rose. A student had notified the counselor about the pictures being passed around of Rose. We are then explained she could have been sent to juvenile detention and charged with child pornography if she had been completely nude.
In the end it got so bad and she was so distracted from it, her grades and athletic ability really suffered. Rose ended up switching schools to a small private school because she had a hard time focusing in the public school after everything. Rose has had a major improvement in attitude, grades, athletics, and general happiness since she switched schools. However, it really did ruin her life for a few months there and she had a very difficult time recovering.
Rose comes from an upper class, white, loving, 2-parent home. She is a statistic but not a stereotype.
If you have any questions, want some more information, or just talk about sexting in your teens life feel free to call anytime at 325-597-7644 or email me (Corrie) at candrews@thehavenfamilyshelter.org
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