Now that school is in full swing it is an important time to talk to our youth about the dangers of technology. More specifically, the dangers of the information we share, especially explicit photos or videos. Smartphones not only provide a sense of independence and confidence but also allow the readily available use of the internet and the production of photos and videos.
“Snap. Send. That is how quickly a teen can send a sexually explicit image using a cell phone” (Capote, 2020).
Youth sexting may seem harmless, but the reality is that it is illegal. Children sending explicit content to another child is considered dissemination of child pornography or sexual exploitation. The child receiving and/or looking at that content is considered a perpetrator whether that content was received with consent or not. Unfortunately, this is one of the only crimes in America where you could fall both victim and an offender at the same time.
Through my dissertation research, the parents I interviewed on Minot Air Force Base and the city of Minot in 2020 felt their child would never partake in sexting. The reality is that “1 out of 4 minors are receiving sexts and 1 out of 7 are sending them” (Hurley, 2021), (Madigan, Ly, Rash, 2018). While 1 out of 7 minors are sending explicit content, studies have shown that roughly 53% of sexters are females and 47% of sexters are boys (Van Ouytsel, Lu, Temple, 2022). The differentiation between genders could have many factors, but females are often more likely to send explicit content especially if they are in a relationship.
We do not teach the dangers of sexting at the kindergarten through 8th grade levels, but research supports that this age group is the one who needs it the most. Apps such as Snap Chat are quick ways to transmit explicit content and children think it deletes after a period of time, not realizing it could be screed shotted and that it could be retrieved from the cloud. Education is the most proactive way to deter youth from taking, receiving, or exploiting explicit photos or videos.
How do we take action?
The simplest way to deter and prevent youth from the dangers of sexting is through education and monitoring. Children cannot know what they do not know; and through parental intervention of those dangers, they are more equipped to handle these types of situations. Situations can include someone sending them unwanted content or dealing with the pressure or demand of someone requesting it. We can teach them to report and teach them not to send.
Get involved and take action! It starts at home!
