Ohio teen Jessica Logan had her whole life ahead of her, but one snap of a camera phone changed her life forever: that one image — meant for only her boyfriend at the time — would have deadly ramifications. Jessica’s parents say she took her own life in her bedroom after the racy photo was leaked around her school, and she had been harassed for months. Now, Jessica’s parents are stepping out, trying to launch a national campaign to educate parents and teens about the dangers of “sexting.” Sexting is when someone sends a sexual message and/or revealing photos to others. It some cases, it starts out by kids sending a picture message to a boyfriend or girlfriend, but what they don’t realize is that picture is usually passed on, quickly, from person to person – and it can linger online forever.
The national campaign to prevent teen and unwanted pregnancy says, one in five teenage girls between 13 and 16 years old say they have electronically sent, or posted online, nude or semi-nude images of themselves. Results show 21 percent of teen girls and 18 percent of teen boys have sent images of themselves. So what can parents do? Get involved! The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy has several tips for you to help keep your teens savvy online.
- Know who your teens are hanging out with on the phone, and online. Some parents want to know who their kids are with, and where they are going, approach computers and cell phones with the same attitude.
- Sit down and talk to your teens about the effects of a nude or semi-nude photo. It’s a conversation worth having.
- Never assume anything you send or post is private. Anything you post or send will never truly go away.
- Never give in to pressure to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, even online.
For more tips on how parents can protect their kid’s reputations, and for how teens can make wiser decisions, check out these tips at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. And for more information on “sexting” and how to protect your teen, log onto Wired Safety.
16 Comments on "Are Your Teens Aware Of The Dangers Of “Sexting”?"
Johann Hollar
It may have 8 years since I graduated high school, but when I hear about sexting I thank god every day that I never had to worry about it back when I was a teen. I find such trends disturbing and so disgusting that I want to throw up. Half naked, even completely naked teenagers showing up on the net is just revolting. Like I said, I am glad I never had to worry about this crap back in high school.
Dad
You can’t be careful enough, Dad
Adriana
Communication! Keep a close eye on your children. Things now a day are worst than ever before. I have a 13 year old boy and I always talk to him about all the dangers that are out there. Have a good relationship with your child and trust. This has worked for me so far.
Vicki Hancock
I am always trying to stick my nose in my kids business. I also have eliminated the picture mail on their phones so no photos. Makes me feel better. Kids can be very sneaky. I thought I had an honest relationship with my kids and they could tell me anything. Now they do but I found out some things one of them had done a few years ago and it blew me away. I had not a clue one. So I guess just keep eyes and ears open. We must protect our kids from the predators out there that look like everyone else. Scary.
Richard C. August
Dear Readers,
The real danger of “sexting” was already revealed in the case of actress Vanessa Hudgens. Even though she was 18 at the time and therefore of legal age, she took several suggestive and at least one totally frontally nude cam photo of herself to send via what were supposedly “secure” cell phone connections to her boyfriend Zac Efron. A smart aleck with a Bluetooth device intercepted the photos, downloaded them to his computer, and plastered them all over the internet.
The other real danger of “sexting” comes in the form of non-nude suggestive photos of young men and women in swimsuits, underwear, or suggestive clothing. These photos frequently get posted on “non-nude” websites as sexual photos, and these “non-nude” websites either have direct links to pornographic websites, or become fully nude or topless websites themselves, due to “customer demand.”
If your teenage child has to engage in “sexting” to “turn on” a potential mate, then it is time for YOU, the PARENT, to turn OFF the phone AND the webcam AND perhaps the internet service, and to get the teen child a phone without a camera. Get a disposable film camera for the teen’s car and instruct the child in its proper use Remember, if it happened to Vanessa Hudgens, it will happen to your child, and pornographers are first and foremost the most vile perverts on the planet.
katelynn
You do a fine job with your work Mr.Walsh and if it’s really bad you really get serious when it comes to solving a case and I watch your show EVERY wekend some days i have to go in another room to watch your show ’cause sometimes my big sister will get on my last nerve i know it’s not that nice to say but really if you spent a weeek here you will leave when you hear my sister anyway i just want to say thank you so much i try my hardest to see if the fugitives are in my area if they are hopefully i could call you and we can send thier big butts straight to jail only if the world was full of excitment and reaching our goals but if that happens we wouldn’t have a great host like you your like a role model to me and i want to be just like you when i grow up well all except being a boy intill then like you say stay safe! p.s. i LOOOOOVE your show
paul
kids always be careful you talk to on the phone never post anything you do not want known never send photos on the enternet be careful out there
TARIQ MALIK
this is why we pakistani avoid to go without male in the market and everywhere so we protect ourself from the dangrouse elements.
Lyse
I believe that sexting is risky, for both teens and adults. If you send nude or revealing pictures, there is a risk that the message can be downloaded and plastered all over the Net. Also these picture can either ruin you emotionally or in terms of reputation.
I believe that teens who sext should have their camera-picture taken away permaently or until they understand the the ramification of their actions.
Nancie
Just like katelynn said, I watch your show every week and it is a great thing that you guys do. I try my best to look out for the criminal fugitives in my area and I hope I will catch one some day. I believe sexting is a really bad thing and we used to have problems like that at our school. Thank you for making so many people aware!
greg heard
everyday parents send their kids out without really knowing the kids whereabouts.my advice is to create a code amongst kids but trading nude pics is a no no.furthermore,kids only do what the parents allow,proper parenting is essential and prayer helps so try them.
calee
Hey kids lisen up.DONT SEXT.
ashley
my name is ashley
why do people always kill poeple and just be th\ereself that is just worng want thay are doing to people
glenn merryweather
we need to put a stop to this sexing before our children get hurt. I’m a father of a 18 year old boy and i’ve been very lucky that he’s got enough common sense not to be doing stuff like that. I’m still very concern though. As a parent, we all need to get involved.
Jordan
im almost 16, and i think that sexting is very wrong. its really disturbing.. and people should avoid it.
Robert
After reading all the comments posted here ever since the camera was put on a cell phone this was a not a great idea this opens up for trouble Im glad to see a lot of foks out there still have a enough common sense a cell phone can be usefull in a senseble way just be careful
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