Posts Tagged ‘sexting’
The Dangers of Teen Sexting
In this age of instant communication and instant gratification sexting has become all too common for those in love. Teenagers are no different, while many teens openly admit that they know it’s wrong to send these sexual photos, many feel the odds of getting caught are so low that they are willing to take the risk. Unfortunately, they are disconnected from the life-long consequences of their behavior and risks of hurting not only themselves but those they love. Join Raychelle Lohmann as she discusses how you can protect and talk to teens about this difficult issue.
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Talking to Teens About Sexting
As cell phone and mobile device use grows among teens, the issue of teen sexting continues to rear its ugly head in our communities. 
Parents, you may be in for a rude awakening if you think your teens are NOT sexting. According to a longitudinal study published in July 2012 by the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, nearly 28 percent of teens say they’ve sent nude photos of themselves via text or email. Another 57 percent reported being asked to send naked photos. The study also reports that teens who demonstrate sexting behaviors were more likely to engage in dating or sex with girls participating in more “risky sexual behaviors.”
So what can you as a parent do? I believe that success with teen sexting has a lot to do with communication between you and your child. You need to have open communication with your kids and talk to them about the dangers of sexting. It may be a difficult and uncomfortable conversation to have but it is one that needs to happen. Kids want their independence; and I agree that as a parent you cannot be there 24/7. However, remember, you are the parent; you have every right to access your child’s Internet accounts and cell phone to ensure that they are not indulging in any activity that is inappropriate. Your kids will fuss but at the end of the day it is your job to protect them.
If you would like to know more about sexting, check out this blog post Caught Your Kid Sexting, Now What? You will learn about sexting and the practical steps if you suspect that your teen is sexting. You can also listen to our podcast “Back to School Series: Cyber Bullying and Sexting”. Also stay tuned for our upcoming March radio series with topics from school bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and the prevention of youth violence all in support of the National SAVE Youth Violence Prevention Week.
Authored by Mia Brooms
Graduate Student Intern
The Dark Side of Technology: Healing the Effects and Preventing Cyber Bullying
Incidents related to cyber-bullying, sexting, and cybersex are increasing each year (Froeschle, Mayorga, Hargrave, & Castillo, 2008; Online Victimization of Youth, 2006). Half of all young people say they have been targets of digital bullying, up to a fourth have experienced sexting online (Quaid, 2009), and up to 51% of teens have given out information to a stranger online (Webster, 2010) with 30% considering meeting these unknown persons face to face (Teen Internet Safety Study, 2006). Many students are failing courses, attempting suicide, suffering from depression, anxiety, and even mental illness as a result of cyberbullying, cybersex, or sexting (Froeschle, Mayorga, Hargrave, & Castillo, 2008). Effective methods are needed to protect and assist students suffering silently from these issues.
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Back to School Series: Cyber Bullying & Sexting
What are sexting, cyber-harassment, and online stalking? While families are preparing for the new school year advocates against violence are gearing up to face new threats to our community’s safety. Every day we hear more and more stories about the endless ways young women and men are using technology to harm one another. Parents are terrified by the notion that their teenagers are engaged in sexting, and at the same time, they are anxious to learn how to face this issue head on. How has the prevalence and availability of new technology affected the frequency and ease of perpetrating these abusive behaviors? What can you do if you find yourself the victim of cyber-harassment or sexting?
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