Sexting: What is it, and why does it matter?
Written by THINK Educator, Cassie Crowder
Surveys show that 14.8% of teens have sent sexts, 27.4% of teens have received sexts, 12% of teens have forwarded sexts, and 8.4% have had a sext forwarded without their consent. If those numbers seem shocking to you, it’s important to understand what sexting is, how to talk to your teen about it, and learn more about internet safety.
So, what is sexting? Sexting is defined as sending or receiving sexually explicit or suggestive images, messages, or videos on a smartphone or through the Internet. Sexting includes: sending nude or nearly nude photos or selfies, videos that show nudity, sex acts, or simulated sex, and text messages that propose sex or refer to sex acts.
Rather than just telling your teen not to look at suggestive images, use opportunities to discuss with them the potential risks and dangers of sexting such as during movies, TV shows, or while your teen is on their phone. Talk openly and respectfully about responsibility, personal boundaries, and how to resist peer pressures. In addition, it is important to teach teens that what is sent via cyberspace cannot be taken back. There are emotional, social, and legal risks of sending sexually explicit images through any technology platform. Messages, pictures, or videos sent through the internet or smartphones are never truly private or anonymous.
What is okay to share online? It’s totally okay to share that funny cat video or your favorite music video, but it’s not okay to share any personal info or gossip. Cyberbullying is a huge issue today; one in three young people in 30 countries said they have been a victim of online bullying, with one in five reporting having skipped school due to cyberbullying and violence, in a new poll released by UNICEF and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence against Children. With that knowledge, it’s important to think before you hit send. Ask yourself: would your grandma be okay with you sharing this? If the answer to that is no, don’t share it! In addition, don’t share any of your personal information such as phone numbers, addresses, credit card info, etc. Not everyone is who you think they are online; think before you share.
For an educational video to share with your teens, check out this video from amaze.org: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxySrSbSY7o
Resources:
New meta-analysis of 39 studies on prevalence of sexting published in JAMA. Madigan S, Ly A, Rash CL, Van Ouytsel J, Temple JR. Prevalence of Multiple Forms of Sexting Behavior Among Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. 2018;172(4):327–335. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.5314