The unsympathetic reality of sexting

Fri Mar 08, 2013

by the St Vincent Grammar School Young Leaders

The onset of technological advancements in the late 21st centuries has arguably played a considerable part in molding society into what it is today and without a doubt has led to a multiplicity of developments in many other fields in the world such as medicine.{{more}} Nevertheless, one can argue that it is these same technological advancements that are to be held accountable for society’s gradual moral decay and social demise, by enabling new forms of social interaction. With the advent of the cellular phone, an all-new horror, sexting, has risen from the ashes of ethics and morality. The word ‘sexting’ is derived from the word ‘sex’ and ‘texting’, words that normally won’t join forces to produce a logical meaning. According to Teen Ink magazine, sexting refers to:

“The practice of conveying sexually-explicit photographs by electronic means, mainly by cellular phone.”

Statistics

Though many in our generation are taking part, very few understand the serious ramifications of this irresponsible fad. Sadly, it is the youths that suffer the most, as they are the ones who are the main propagators of such sickening messages, and often suffer, oblivious of the social and psychological risks that sexting poses. A 2008 UK survey of 2,094 teens aged 11 to 18 found that 38 per cent had sent or received an “offensive or distressing” sexual image by text or email. These numbers represent 2,094 teens whose lives were negatively changed by ‘sexting’. Furthermore, in a 2009 survey of 1,280 teenagers and young adults of both sexes on Cosmogirl.com, sponsored by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 20 per cent of teens (13-20) and 33 per cent of young adults (20-26) had sent nude or semi-nude photographs of themselves electronically. Additionally, 39 per cent of teens and 59 per cent of young adults had sent sexually explicit text messages. These appalling statistics are just a portion of the reality; these numbers, however, continue to rise rapidly every day. Who knows, maybe your child or your sibling or cousin may become the next statistic. To add to the insult, adults and older individuals who, needless to say, know better, are often the perpetrators of sexting. They are partly responsible for the psychological demise of literally thousands of youths every passing day.

Recent advances in technology have revolutionized the way we interact socially. Cell phones and e-mail have changed the way we communicate, but have led to dangerous and destructive behaviour. While some teens may think sexting is fun or harmless, this new craze can have devastating consequences. When a photo or video is sent to another person, privacy is lost forever. The content can be broadcast to anyone. The original sender has no control once he or she presses “send.”

Why is sexting a problem?

For generations, young people and adults have been exchanging sexually suggestive and explicit letters, messages and other materials, so sexting shouldn’t come as a big surprise. On the other hand, the ease with which photos and videos can be propagated is a concern. A photo shared between two people can quickly become a viral phenomenon.

• Photos and videos sent privately can easily be shared with others.

• Once digital images are out there, they leave a digital footprint, especially online. You can’t “take it back.”

• 51 per cent of teen girls cite pressure from the opposite sex as a reason to send explicit messages, while only 18 per cent of teen boys say so. This is of concern where there is already a power imbalance in a relationship or an issue with self-esteem.

• Sexting is currently illegal under federal law. It falls under the creation, distribution and possession of child porn. It is a felony offense. While some lawmakers are working to change this, others are prosecuting both those taking the pictures and those possessing them.

Consequences of “sexting”

In the eyes of some, sexting is a harmless act, but in the eyes of others, it is a controversial mess. Sending out explicit photos of yourself often leads to a damaged reputation, harm to your education, and life-long consequences.

• Sending out a photo of a nude person is a stupid decision. If you receive a naked photo of a peer, chances are it is linked to revenge. During the dating period, one party may send a sexually revealing photo to his/her partner. After they break up, the photo is sent around, from person to person via a cell phone. A website could be created with the sexual photos and a link be provided on Facebook to visit the site. Due to the fact that students have seen your body, your reputation would be tarnished. People would taunt you because of the pictures. In 2008, an Ohio girl hanged herself because of the nude photos she had sent to her former boyfriend. The girl was teased so much that it became unbearable, and she committed suicide. Sexting is not an act you want to be involved in.

• The revealing photo circulating from student to student would make it very awkward to attend school. As you walk down the hall, your peers would whisper about you. School would be embarrassing, long hours, because most people received a picture of you in little or no clothes. Students would refer to you in provocative terms, and stare at you in rude ways. Being singled out because of sexting would make you feel vulnerable and worthless. Eventually, your education would be at stake, as you waste valuable class time thinking about how life was before your entanglement with sexting, while dodging stares and glances from your classmates. Sexting impairs your reputation at school. Sexting threatens your education. Sexting damages your future.

What parents can do to prevent sexting

Monitor texting

•  How can you make sure your kids have smut-free cell phones? Experts advise both monitoring and restricting their phone use. Many phone plans limit the number of texts that can be sent per month and block images. You can also justify doing spot checks of your teens’ phones if you pay for all or part of the bills. The study found that teens who paid their own phone bills were more likely to report that they had engaged in sexting. About 17 per cent of those teens had sent nude or semi-nude images, compared to 3 per cent of those who had a parent or someone else pay for all or part of their bills.

• Parents and schools should also work together to help victims. Kids who are harassed after a sexting incident need to be monitored for extreme behaviour changes that could signal depression. A safe haven in school should be provided, and if the harassing gets overwhelming, get the police involved.

Don’t forget the sex education in sexting talks

•  Finally, it’s crucial that parents understand that sexting doesn’t just involve issues of technology and bullying. It’s also about sex. Parents should use the sordid trend as a way to talk to teens about sex. Remind teens that respect should be the basis of a relationship – they shouldn’t feel pressured to exchange explicit photos to attract or keep a partner.

What can young people do to prevent sexting?

• Think about the consequences of taking, sending, or forwarding a sexual picture of someone underage, even if it’s of you. You could face humiliation, lose educational opportunities, and even get in trouble with the law.

• Never take images of yourself that you wouldn’t want everyone – your classmates, your teachers, your family, or your employers – to see.

• Before hitting “send”, remember that you can’t control where this image may travel. What you send to a boyfriend or girlfriend could easily end up with their friends, and their friends, and their friends…

• If you forward a sexual picture of someone underage, you are as responsible for this image as the original sender. You could face child pornography charges, be imprisoned, and be registered as a sex offender.

• Report any nude pictures you receive on your cell phone to an adult you trust. Do not delete the message. Instead, get your parents or guardians, teachers, and school counsellors involved immediately.