HERE & HERE are great blogs about talking to your teen about sensitive topics like pornography and sex. HERE is a great blog about talking to your teen in general. ASK QUESTIONS-compassionately and empathetically. Do not freak out if you’ve found something on your teen’s phone or you hear what some of their friends are doing. How do I talk with my child about sexting?ĭon’t lecture. Remember, your child can do NOTHING wrong and still accidentally come across inappropriate content or have it sent to them.
#Full sexting conversations with pictures how to#
They aren’t in trouble, Mommy and Daddy just want to talk to them about how to handle it. If they receive a text, a request, or a picture that makes them feel uncomfortable, they need to bring it to Mommy or Daddy right away. HERE is a great article about when and how you should give your child a phone.Īll they might need to know is that some people use their phones for inappropriate things. This is a conversation that comes with receiving a phone. Don’t wait until there’s an issue or you find something on their phone. When should I talk to my child about it?Īs soon as they get a cellphone or smartphone. Almost 20% of teens have reported being forwarded a picture or video that was not intended for them, with over half of those teens admitting to forwarding it to more than one other person.Īs we try to get accurate information on a subject that depends on self-reporting, the bottom line is that sexting is a growing teen reality that’s here to stay. 1 in 5 teens has sent or posted nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves. We know that 53% of teens who sext are girls while 47% are boys. Unfortunately, 54% of teens under the age of 18 admit to having sent sexually-tinged messages or inappropriate pictures. One report uncovered that some children as young as 10 years old are exposed to sexting. And approximately, over 25% have received them.Īlmost 10 years later, according to research by JAMA in 2018, as many as 1 in 8 youth send or forward sexts without permission, which can devastate the subject or recipient of such messages. But the bad news is, many attribute this decrease in actual sex to increases in the use of pornography and sexting.)Ī study in JAMA Pediatrics published in 2009 found that about 15% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 had sent sexts. (The good news is that actual sex among teens has been going down for the last 10 years according to the CDC. Interestingly enough, the word was first listed in the dictionary in 2012-around the time smartphones were gaining popularity among teens. Sexting involves the exchange of sexually suggestive or explicit content, such as messages or photographs, between mobile devices. Some teens find the combination irresistible. Think of the combination of being at an age when you are already curious about sex and also have all this technology at your disposal. Some view it as a joke, and sadly, teens often feel pressured to sext. Meanwhile, some teens sext because they’ve been dared or they’re trying to entice someone. Many young people see nothing wrong with sexting, especially if “ everyone is doing it,” or they are in a “committed” relationship. Sexting is a “normal” way to interact with their peers. Keep in mind that to most teens, sexting has been normalized. Get past the parental, “ Why would they do that? ” “ She’s not that kind of girl!” She probably isn’t-in the real world.īut it’s a whole different world online. This is why so many parents can’t believe their shy, introverted, reserved daughter is sending nude pictures of herself to classmates or her boyfriend. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that parents often seem in the dark about sexting. It’s a passport to a world where their identity is fluid, time and space are more than relative, there are very few rules and often very little parental supervision. It is also where they stand up for beliefs and express opinions. It’s where they carry on their romantic relationships. It’s where they “hang out” with their friends and flirt and gossip. Online is where the action’s at-at least the action that matters. For a parent, usually, their phone is just a part of their life. They can listen to music, shop, and keep up with friends on Facebook. Parents think it’s just a mobile phone that you can check email on and get driving directions. Maybe one of the biggest generational divides today is digital. (Part 1), Check out Part 2, What to Do If When Your Teen is Sexting
0 kommentar(er)
