Sexting: Are your kids safe?

As more and more teenagers acquire mobile phones, with their parents’ help and consent, “sexting” or sending of sexually-oriented images or messages, has become increasingly popular.

Sexting, as defined by UrbanDictionary.com:

The act of text messaging someone in the hopes of having a sexual encounter with them later; initially casual, transitioning into highly suggestive and even sexually explicit

Peer pressure

According to a U.S. study, 20 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 19 have sent nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves. The study also suggests that teenage girls are more likely to give in to peer pressure than boys.

Famous celebrities

Famous people have also been a victim of sexting. Teen celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens and Miley Cyrus have been victims of this fad. In the case of Miley Cyrus, she claims that her mobile phone was ‘hacked’ and the photos of her in her underwear, intended for her boyfriend, were leaked without her consent. Vanessa Hudgens, on the other hand, supposedly emailed nude photos of herself to her boyfriend, Nickelodeon actor Drake Bell.

What can parents do?

Parents play an important role in protecting their children. While I’m not suggesting you put a tighter leash on your kids, you have to be aware of what peer pressure can do to your child. While communication is important, you, as parents, have to be extra vigilant on what your child is doing.

Credits: Image courtesy of People Magazine

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