Sexting is sharing sexually explicit photos, videos and chat by cell phone or online and is a fairly common activity among young people, despite potential negative consequences for those who do it.
According to an Associated Press-MTV poll more than a quarter of young people have been involved in sexting in some form.
Nearly half of those surveyed expressed that they did not see it as a problem. Others viewed it as a serious issue but did it anyway.
Just how serious are the consequences?
The problem is that these kids and young adults are living in the moment and not considering future consequences……
They don’t think about the idea that those photos might wind up in the hands of college admissions officers, present or future employers. As is the case in the top photograph.
Then there is always the issue of transmitting pornographic material leading to criminal consequences.
Criminal charges aren’t the worst consequences. In at least two cases, sexting has been linked to suicide.
Last year in Cincinnati, 18-year-old Jessica Logan hanged herself after weeks of ridicule at school; she had sent a nude cell phone picture to her boyfriend, and after they broke up, he forwarded the picture to other girls.
And three months ago, 13-year-old Hope Witsell hanged herself, after relentless taunting at her school near Tampa, Fla. She had sent a nude photo of herself to a boy she liked, and another girl used his phone to send the picture to other students who forwarded it along.
Here’s some advice to nip this in the bud:
1. Before you record a picture, reflect on where the picture you are about to take may surface.
2. Resist pressure to sext.
3. Break the cycle. Forwards can live forever. If you don’t want your junk mail floating around, just delete other people’s sexts when you get ‘em, and don’t respond to obnoxious or inappropriate messages.
4. Maintain possession. They start off on your camera, and before you know it they’re everywhere. And once they escape, it’s almost impossible to get them back.
~ concord carpenter
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