Keeping Kids Safe: Is Your Child Sexting?

The dating world is complicated for teens these days. It’s not just a matter of romantic phone calls. It’s not even a matter of phone calls at all. The seemingly normal progression from “wats up” to “send pic” is commonplace for far too many teenage relationships. But do teens really understand the consequences that sexting could bring? Probably not.

Ending up on Facebook (Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Flicker, ect.)

The first immediate problem is the abundance of social media sites. When a text is sent, it can be forwarded or uploaded to any number of people or public sites.

According to a Psychology Today study, 25 percent of teens who received a sext forwarded it on to someone else. In that same study, almost a third of all teens admitted to sending sexually explicit text messages. 

Ending up on a “Parasite Porn Site”

More disturbingly, “parasite porn sites” are taken from social media sites by bots online and used for child pornography, Forbes reports.

Stats in that article state that almost 90 percent of all self-made sexual images uploaded to the internet end up on porn sites.

Ending up in Jail or on the sex offender registry

And if the reputation ramifications don’t seem damaging enough, your teen could actually end up in jail on producing and distributing child pornography charges. 

Worldwide, more than 450 teens were convicted on charges stemming from sexting from 2007 to 2011, News.com reports.

Even more notable is that those caught receiving sexts could be prosecuted as well. 

US News reports that if charges were filed for both the senders and receivers nationwide, several million teens would be prosecuted each year. 

How to tell if your child is sexting

Everyday Connected offers these tips to find out if your child is sending explicit text messages: 

• Look for changes in grades and behavior
• Know your teen’s friends
• Develop strong communication. 
• Check your teen’s cell
• Consider blocking all text capabilities.