Sexting Lilting Messages
Sexting is the
craze and the age group indulging in it keeps getting younger by the day. With
technology as their partner-in-progress, it appears unlikely to stick to the
same mode, and what you should do about it.
Examples:
1. You
always feel so good inside of me.
2. You make
me so wet.
3. I’ve
never felt as attracted to anyone else.
4.The
anticipation of going down on you is killing me.
5. I can’t
get enough of you.
6. Your
thick, long and dark shaft pinches me long after...
While
parents deny it, it is found that about 15 per cent of teens send sexts whereas
twice this number receive them, reports a Canadian review. The study involved 110,000
teens aged between 12 and 17 and covered a long time period (1990-2022). The
result found that the number has been increasing each year with older teenagers
sexting more than their younger ones.
Dating apps
are a major source of such behavior. Why just teenagers? Even lower grade
students are drawn to the allure of appearing intelligent. Technology is
enabling instant communication. While age is not a barrier, teens and
adolescents are more likely to engage in sexting.
Teen sexting
may not be the worldwide epidemic that parents have been warned about.
Unfortunately, despite education efforts and cautionary tales, it is still
fairly common. While figures vary, it is estimated that one out of every four
teenagers receives sexually explicit messages and emails. At least one in every
seven adolescent sends "sexts." What inspires them to do so? Perhaps
it is done to attract or demonstrate interest in someone - for example, to act
as an adult. Kids' growing interest in sex, their desire to explore, and the
availability of sexting apps create an environment that some teens find
seductive.
In a
technological society where everything can be copied, transmitted, uploaded,
and viewed by large audiences, there is no such thing as information
management. Even if a picture was taken and given as a gift of affection, for
example, technology allows everyone to see your child's most private self. When
explicit images in the hands of teenagers become public, the sexter almost
always feels embarrassed. Furthermore, sending sexual photos to minors is
against the law, and several jurisdictions have begun prosecuting children for
child pornography or criminal obscenity.
Several
high-profile sexting incidents have occurred. Australia's cricket captain, Tim
Paine, was forced to resign in November 2021 due to sexting. In 2018, a sexting
scandal engulfed a large number of Virginia middle school students. In 2015, a
sexting scandal involving hundreds of students rocked a Colorado high school.
Jesse Logan, a high school student from Cincinnati, committed suicide in 2009
after a naked picture she sent to her boyfriend was widely shared throughout
her high school, resulting in abuse from her peers.
Thankfully,
networks with large young audiences, such as MTV, are using their platforms to
educate children about the dangers of sexting. Another website,
ThatsNotCool.com, uses adolescent jargon to assist people in avoiding virtual
peer pressure. Even the film Eighth Grade depicts the anxiety that young people
feel when they are pressured to conform. Perhaps these messages will be heard.
Parents
should be aware of the following:
Don't wait
for an incident with your child or a child's friend to bring up the dangers of
sexting. Sure, talking about sex or dating with teenagers can be awkward, but
it's better to have the conversation before something bad happens.
Remind your
children that once a picture is transmitted, it cannot be recovered and they
will no longer have possession of it. Inquire with teenagers about their
reactions if their teachers, parents, or the entire school saw the photo, as
this happens all the time.
Discuss peer
pressure to release intimate images. Many teenagers are sexually harassed
online by their classmates, according to a Michigan State University study.
Tell teenagers that you understand how they may feel pushed to send anything.
Tell them that regardless of how much social pressure they are under, the
possibility of social disgrace is hundreds of times greater.
Teach your
children that they are solely responsible for their actions. They are
ultimately responsible. If they get a photo, they should delete it right away.
It is preferable to contribute to the solution rather than the problem.
