Dangers Of 'Sexting'

Dangers Of 'Sexting'

What teens call "sexting", are sending raunchy messages and/or photos via text, email or instant message to each other. "Sexting" is nothing new-common amongst both boys and girls-surrendering privacy without a thought. Girls think that it is flirty and fun; guys thing it is hot and share with their buddies.

Forty to sixty percent and 1 in 5 teens have "sext" or posted online nude or semi-nude pictures or video of themselves. Today teenager's want their "privacy" in their rooms and on the phone but yet fail to realize that photo's and/or text messages can be readily shared and spread far beyond an individual or the group of "friends" for whom it was originally intended.

Nothing in cyberspace really gets deleted. If a relationship falls apart the "dumped" individual can use those indiscreet photos and messages to hurt and humiliate; there are websites just for this purpose of "burning your ex".

Yet another "talk" parents must have with their kids: Don't send nude photos of yourself over the internet and/or cell phones. This "talk" may not work though; they know and they are doing it anyway. However, when the legality of this act is explained perhaps the teen will appreciate her/his phone more.

Parent Wake Up Call - It’s illegal under federal and state child-porn laws to create explicit images of a minor, posses them or distribute them. These laws were drafted to address adult abuse of minors, but it turns out they don’t exempt minors who create and distribute images, even if the pictures are of them (making them, presumably, the victims). In fact, police and prosecutors in several states are going after creator-victims possibly resulting in life in federal prison. If she/he does manage to get out, she/he may have to register as a sex offender.

Mark Rasch, a former cybercrime prosecutor for the Justice Department, and now an information security and privacy consultant stated, “Imagine in the year 2063, a 70-year-old woman having to post a notice that she is a registered sex offender because of a camera-phone picture she snapped of herself in 2009. The combination of poorly drafted laws, new technologies, draconian and inflexible punishments, and teenage hormones make for potentially disastrous results.”

Kids...........take responsibility, value the use and why you have a cell phone and think before you do something stupid that could mess your life up for years to come. It's not worth it!

Take care and STAY SAFE!
Anny
A Survivor
The Realistic Female Self-Defense Company
"Raising female awareness and skills to reduce susceptibility in response to violence."
www.realisticfemaleselfdefense.com