>> "Sexting" and Teens: What Message Are You Sending? (01/2010)

Behind the Badge: A Message from Sheriff Ted Mink

“Sexting” is the exchange of sexually explicit images, text, video or other content between mobile phones.  The word is a combination of “sex” and “texting.”  Sexting most often occurs between romantic partners, or between people who are not yet in a relationship, but where at least one person hopes to be. 

A rise in mobile phone ownership among teens and adolescents, and newer phone features like cameras and text messaging have made sexting more common today than ever before. 

In a 2008 study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, researchers found that 20 percent of teenagers studied had have electronically sent, or posted online, nude or semi-nude pictures or video of themselves.  Twice as many reported sending sexually suggestive messages.

Teens know sexting can have harsh consequences.  Still, at least one in five is doing it.  Here is some information for teens and parents to get you thinking and talking about this growing trend.

You Have No Control
There are right ways and wrong ways to use any form of digital social interaction.  The most important thing to remember is that content is no longer private once it is shared electronically — even with just one other person.  Digital images, videos and other content can be instantly copied, forwarded, posted online, displayed on cell phone screens, and otherwise shared with viewers who were never meant to view them.

While 20 percent of teens say they’ve sent sexual photos of themselves, 25 percent of girls and 33 percent of boys say they’ve received sexual photos originally meant for someone else.  The data upholds the anecdotal evidence: many photos don’t stop once they reach their intended recipient.

Relationships change.  Someone whom you like or trust today — a friend, potential partner, boyfriend or girlfriend — may not have your best interests in mind tomorrow.  He or she may distribute your most intimate, most graphic communications for fun, or with malice.  Think: a photo could be used to blackmail you (what would you do to prevent it from being sent to your peers?). 

Before you hit send, ask yourself: “Could this come back to haunt me?”

Personal Impact
Once digital content leaves your possession it leaves your control.  This goes for content shared by phone, e-mail, instant message, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other communication channels.  Even if you have second thoughts and delete something you’ve posted, anyone who had access to it has already had the chance to copy, save or forward it.

Photos may surface days, weeks, or even years after they’re taken, and may affect a young person’s college applications, job search or future relationships.

Further, although most teens who have sent sexually suggestive content said they did so to be “fun or flirtatious,” how the recipient interprets it is something else.  A recipient may develop assumptions or expectations about the sender’s true intentions after receiving an explicit message or photo.

Legal Issues
There are criminal implications for people who possess sexual images or videos of young people.  If you obtain the content from someone other than the original sender, or forward the content on to others, you could be charged with sexual exploitation of a child.  This can result in jail time, and/or being forced to register as a sex offender.  These legal consequences can apply to both adults and juveniles.

Nationwide, teens have faced child pornography charges, both for sending sexually explicit photos and for possessing them.  Although criminal charges are rare, they should be a consideration for anyone about to hit “send.”

For Parents
Familiarize yourself with the kinds of technology and social networking tools your children are using.  Find out what the tools are capable of, and specifically, how your child and his/her peers are using them. Talk to your kids about using technology responsibly, and what the long-term consequences can be.  

For more about confronting sexting and other teen trends, contact your child’s school resource officer or school counselor.

Other resources include:

• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy’s report.
• The I Love U Guys Foundation Web site.

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Last Modified: Jan 18, 2010 01:17 PM