Inform your children that texts, images and videos on the internet can remain there forever.Teens may be suspended from school and have labels on their permanent record that could hurt their chances of getting into college or getting a job. There can be serious consequences for sexting, quite possibly involving the police. Make sure kids of all ages understand that sexting is serious and considered a crime in many jurisdictions.Depending on the state, both senders and receivers could be charged and prosecuted. Some sexts can be considered pornography or child pornography. Be very specific-especially with teens-that sexting often involves pictures or videos of a sexual nature, including nude and seminude photos and sexual activities.For older children, use the term "sexting" and ask if they've been exposed to nude or seminude images or sexual activities such as "making out"-or more. For younger children with cell phones who may know little about sex, let them know that text messages should never contain pictures or videos of people-kids or adults-without their clothes on, engaged in extended kissing or touching private parts. Use examples that fit your child's age when giving them information and guidance.After that, you can add age-appropriate information as needed. It's important to first learn what your child's understanding is of the issue. Ask your child if they've heard of sexting and what they think it is. Start the discussion-even if you don't think sexting has affected your child or your community.
Keep giving age-appropriate guidance as your child or teen matures. It's best to talk to your child as soon they are old enough to have aĬell phone. Just as you'd have " the sex talk," you should also should start the conversation about sexting before a problem develops.
#REAL SEXTING CONVERSATIONS TO READ PDF HOW TO#
When & how to discuss sexting with your kids If your video or picture is posted online, you are vulnerable to attention you don't want from others, perhaps even predators. This can lead to serious emotional distress. You may feel humiliation or embarrassment. You may regret sending a sext, especially if it's shared with others. You could be bullied by peers who see the sext. Even people you trust may forward it to others. You don't have any control over the video or picture once it's sent. There are other risks with sexting too, risks that young people may not think about, including: Minors may also be permanently placed on sex offender lists. Some states will even prosecute minors with a felony charge, which can mean up to 20 years in prison. There's also the potential legal trouble kids can get into, whether they're sending or receiving sexts. They also tend to be more vulnerable to digital dangers such as bullying or " sextortion." This is a type of blackmail used to get people to send sexually explicit photos or money so that their private information isn't posted online. Younger adolescents who sext may be even more susceptible to these risks because of their lack of experience and immaturity. Young people who sext are more likely to:Įngage in sexual activity and sex with multiple partners There are mental health risk factors and sexual behaviors linked with kids and teens who sext, compared to those that don't. While sexting has become more normalized among young people, there are many risks involved for kids and teens. Older and younger adolescents receive sexts at around the same rate Older teens are more likely to send sexts AĢ021 study on sexting among youth found these statistics:ġ4.5% had forwarded a sext without consent It's not too surprising then that sexting is more common among kids and teens these days. Survey, an estimated 88% of 13- to 18-year-olds and 43% of 8- to 12-year-olds have smartphones. There has been a significant jump in the number of kids and teens with access to smartphones. This is why it's important to talk about sexting with your child early, so they have the information they need to make healthy decisions. But the fact is that sexting is something kids will find out about at some point. It's not something any parent wants to think about their child doing, and it may be uncomfortable to talk about. Sexting is the sending or receiving of sexually explicit images, videos or text messages using a smartphone, computer, tablet, video game or digital camera. By: Yolanda (Linda) Reid Chassiakos, MD, FAAP
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