Parents should learn about sexting

About one in five teenagers have sent a “sext” message, according to a recent survey. Sexting has been a hot topic in the news as it continues to be an issue with American youth. While the word sexting is a play on the word texting, a sext message can be sent via e-mail or posted online as well as distributed through text or picture messages on a cell phone. Sexting includes the electronic transmission of nude or seminude photos or videos and/or sexually suggestive text.

While sexting may lead to devastating consequences, many teenagers do not think about what might happen if they send a sext message. Some of the consequences of sexting include:

* The inability to keep recipients from forwarding or sharing the message with others

* Felony charges such as creating, possessing, or distributing child pornography

* Loss of employment opportunities

* Loss of college scholarships or athletic eligibility

* Depression or anxiety

* Suicide

Although not every teenager is sexting, it can still be important for parents to be aware that sexting is happening and to know how to talk to their teenagers about it. Here are five tips to help parents discuss the topic with their teens:

* Openly and honestly talk with your teenagers about what they are doing online or on their cell phones. Make sure they know that any message they send or post in cyberspace is not truly private, as it can be shared with others or seen by others unintentionally.

* Be aware of who your teenagers are communicating with. Just as it is important to know who they are spending time with in person, it is important to know who they are spending time with on the phone or the internet.

* Set limitations on the cell phone and computer. Does your teenager need to have text messages or a camera on his/her cell phone? Maybe at night the cell phones and laptops get placed in a more public room in the house rather than in the teenager’s bedroom.

* Know what kind of content your teenagers are posting publicly. If they have social networking accounts, such as Facebook, check out their profile from time to time to make sure it stays appropriate. This should not be considered an invasion of privacy since social network profiles are publicly shared.

* Set expectations with your teenagers about what you consider to be appropriate behavior when using the cell phone and computer.

For more information or resources on this topic, contact Christina Rittenbach, Stustman County Extension agent-in-training. She can be reached at 252-9030 or christina.masich@ndsu.edu

Tags: life, family