Talking with kids about sexting
“Research at the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center suggests that teens who don’t sext are more aware of their values about sharing nudity, and more in touch with their own feelings of discomfort. That’s important to know, because it suggests that trying to scare kids away from sexting might not be the best strategy. Instead, talking to kids about values and personal feelings of privacy might be a more effective way to discourage sexting. ”
The term “sexting” refers to sending electronic pictures to others in which the subject of the photo is naked, partially naked, or in a sexually suggestive pose. It’s a tricky topic to address with kids and teens, because it involves nudity, your values about sexuality and teenage sexuality, and digital technology. THE GOOD NEWS is that you don’t need to understand everything about technology in order to talk about this issue with your kids. Here’s a commonsense guide to help you start that conversation.
You might hear: “Everybody sends these pictures.”
Sexting isn’t rare, but it isn’t universal, either. About 25-33% of teens seem to engage in sexting. Students who are not in relationships sometimes sext too. There are no signs that definitively show that a teenager has sexted.
You might hear: “Nobody goes to jail for sexting.”
Sexting is illegal, but it’s not often prosecuted. There’s no guarantee, though. Another risk that teens often hear is that the picture may be shown to others. These two risks don’t seem to be as common as many adults believe.
You might hear: “Nothing bad happens after people sext.”
Teens need to know that sexting is a risky activity, but discuss risks, values and privacy. It’s also important to note that we have no research on the long term results of sexting.