New research indicates that sexting or the creation and sending of sexy self-portraits via cell phone or email is growing much more rapidly than previously reported. This is a call to action for parents who provide their kids with cellphones that include cameras or laptop/desktop computers with webcams. Hello? Are you listening, Mom and Dad?
The study, possibly the first of its kind, was conducted with 1,280 teens in the fall of 2008 in an online survey. The results are astonishing. Not only have 20% of the teens already sent a nude or semi-nude image to others via technology, but they did so while knowing that it was probably a dangerous thing to do. They know the photos get sent to others, can cause embarassment and damage to your reputation but still they give in. Why? Most often cited is "pressure from boys" as a reason why girls send these photos. Some indicated sending these photos was a "sexy present" to a boy or to improve their social standing with someone they want to "hook up with."
And what effect does it have when celebrities commit the same acts of stupidity? Whether Miley Cyrus (known as the star of Disney's "Hannah Montana" show) who claims her cell phone images were "hacked" or Vanessa Hudgens, star of the highly popular "High School Musical" franchise who sent nude photos to her boyfriend, Zac Efron? Or what about the "Cheetah Girls" star whose sexy nude photos were able to slip her grasp and end up posted online? Makes one wonder about the Disney Studios' ability to screen their stars' self-control and maturity levels. If nothing else, celebrities who commit these online mistakes and gain publicity and public sympathy may be sending our teens the wrong message.
So what are we parents to do to stop this ridiculous trend? One solution is to just take the cellphone with camera away from our kids but a teen who really wants or is pressured to join this trend will borrow a friend's camera to get the needed image. No, we need to start discussing this issue with our kids and raising their awareness for the long term impact of falling for "peer pressure." Not sure how to begin? You might consider trying "the Talk" to get online issues out into the open in your family. After that, please make sure you introduce a new family rule, where Mom and Dad regularly check the cell phone for images created, sent and received. Also it's wise to "friend" your child in their social network even if they hate it. Check your child's profile for new images or posted videos and photos.