Teens and Sexting: What To Do As Parents
For those of whom the term Sexting is new or unknown, what it means will be shocking. The term sexting refers to footage shot on a camera cell phone and then sent to others all via cellular phones. The content of the pictures and video being sent are of a pornographic nature.
Essentially teens and young people are taking nude or sexual pictures of themselves and others and then sending them as a text message to others. Many times the images end up on the internet where literally millions of people will view them. Because of sexting, lives have been ruined. There are several things that parents or teens should be aware of and how they can help their teen avoid being involved in such activity.
Girls Are A High Risk
First, parents should know that usually, but not always, girls are most commonly the victims of sexting. Quite often in these cases it is found that girls suffering from low self-esteem are at most risk. These young girls are looking for and receiving attention.
This need for attention will become such strong need that they won't care if the attention is negative attention or is harmful to them. They seek only to be accepted. This does not mean that boys are not also at risk. Boys may become the perpetrator or victims of sexting themselves.
Parents, Talk To Your Children
Second, parents should take the opportunity to sit down with their child and explain not only the risks, but the consequences of such behavior. Teens need to know that anyone who would encourage or pressure them into a dangerous situation is not really a friend, but someone that really doesn't care about them and is exploiting them in a horrible way.
Young people should be taught and helped to understand that the decisions they make can have a lifelong consequences. Sexting may seem somewhat harmless, but such behavior can lead to other more consequential actions that could alter not only their life, but others as well.
Take Action Immediately
Third, If parents become aware that their teen is involved in this , they should act immediately to take away their teen's cell phone and try to find those other individuals who might be involved. Parents, you have the right and obligation to check in on your children and look at their phone messages.
After all, it's probably you who is paying for their cell phone as well as their phone bill. Teens who take part in this behavior no matter what their role or level of involvement must know that they will be punished. In fact, teens should know that in some cases, the law becomes involved and jail time may even result from such risky actions.
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