You have heard the stories about sexting in the news lately. Most of the stories take place in schools and involve teenagers. But, what is sexting? Sexting is described as the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones.
Roughly 20 percent of teens admit to participating in “sexting,” according to a nationwide survey by the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Sexting occurs many times each day. These photos and messages can end up on social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook, where in many cases they are out there for everyone to see, including law enforcement. In the eyes of law enforcement, many types of sexting are crimes, and sexting can lead to criminal prosecution.
The media has focused attention on sexting cases in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Ohio’s case involved an 18-year-old girl who committed suicide after a naked picture of herself, which she had texted, was forwarded around her high school.
It is important to teach kids to proactively protect themselves online and through cell phone communication. The Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (I.R.O.C), a New Jersey-based nonprofit organization, helps communities protect themselves through one of their programs. You can also practice the following tips in your home.
• Set up the home computer in a common area.
• Purchase filtering, monitoring, or software blocking tools.
• Only post information that you want everyone to know or see.
• Teach respectful online communication.
• Trust your instincts. If someone or something online makes you feel uncomfortable, notify your parents or a trusted adult.
Share your thoughts on this subject. Is sexting just another fad in the wave of new technology? Has it been a subject of concern for years and cases now just being called to attention?