Sexting
Digital Citizenship Newsletter Vol. 1 No. 1
Below you will find student opinions, statistics and articles to help you start the conversation at home.
Teen sexting recently surfaced again in the news when more than 100 students exchanged nude photos at Cañon City High School in Colorado. At PVC, 8th grade students learn about the risks associated with teen or adult sexting in their Media classes. Here are some of their thoughts:
“I feel that sexting is bad but then again I’m one out of many, we are growing bodies and want to experiment with the opposite sex.”
“I believe that sexting is a stupid thing that teens do because they sometimes feel the need to do, whether it's for attention or just they want to experiment.”
“Sexting is a very bad idea because it can destroy your reputation.”
“I think that sexting is a way to make people (mostly under the age of eighteen) feel "cool" and older than they actually are.”
“Sexting is bad and your private photos could be exposed to social media.”
“Sexting is something that’s super easy for kids nowadays to do and they take advantage of those opportunities.”
“It's not a good idea because in the end you will regret it.”
“In my opinion, sexting is okay. As long as it is done between two adults over the age of 18.”
“I think it is never a smart decision to sext. It is morally and ethically wrong, and you never know what could happen with the photo.”
“Sexting is just very dumb. Even if you’re an adult, it's dumb. You’re putting pictures of your naked body for ANYONE to see. You think the person you sent it to is the only one who sees it.”
“Sexting is something that is so easy to get in trouble for, and many teens are not properly educated about the legal consequences of it.”
“Sexting is a good thing because you aren't doing it every day. If you do it in moderation it isn't so bad.”
“My opinion on sexting is that it is not a good thing and it should be illegal for all ages. Sexting can ruin people's lives, it can hurt a person if it gets leaked, and no matter what age you are, you're not safe from the internet.”
Articles on sexting to spark the conversation:
What Research Says About Sexting
By Elizabeth Englander, Educational Leadership Magazine, October 2015
Research and experience suggest that sexting can be a form of sexual harassment. Here's how to start the conversation with students.
iKeepSafe.org
Consequences of sexting, how to deal with a sext request, and how to get help.
Prosecutors Weigh Teenage Sexting: Folly or Felony?
By Erik Eckholm, New York Times, November 13, 2015
While trading raunchy photos can be viewed legally as violating child pornography laws, few prosecutors want to ruin a teenager’s life for a one-time display of immaturity.
Schools Can’t Stop Kids From Sexting. More Technology Can.
By Jonathan Zimmerman, New York Times, November 10, 2015, Op-Ed Contributor
There are serious risks associated with teenagers exchanging nude photos but it isn’t the dangerous scourge that most adults imagine.