Sexting among teens has been a controversial problem for many years now, with advances in technology quickly engulfing our generation. Recently, a survey from the University of Rhode Island has concluded how popular sexting is among teens in our generation today. According to Health Land Time Magazine, “78% of students in the survey say they’ve received sexually suggestive messages and 56% say they have received intimate images”. As more people realize how serious sexting is, there are ways to avoid it such as parental awareness, restrictions on multi media message plans, and educating teens on the dangers of sexting.
Awareness of the dangers of sexting, harsher consequences and better understanding of the subject can possibly prevent or solve this very controversial issue. Not only is sexting affecting teens who engage in it but it is affecting parents, families and victims of abuse. In 2009, a survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life project showed that “4% of cell owning teens ages 12-17 have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images of themselves to someone else via text messaging”.
A way of preventing teens to engage in sexting is raising awareness of how dangerous sexting can be. Most teens are not aware of the dangers of sexting, and are often peer pressured into engaging in the activity. If schools can establish a way to provide educational seminars teaching teens about the dangers of sexting, it could prevent more teens from engaging in sexting. Most parents that provide cellphones to teens, are usually unaware of the many uses a smartphone has. Considering we are a smartphone generation, it is hard for most parents to keep up with the ongoing new technology.
A way to enforce the awareness of sexting could involve cellphone companies providing consumers of the dangers that arise with sexting. Also, the company could alert the parent when too much multimedia usage is occurring. For example, Verizon wireless has a support section on their website that has an article on sexting and the dangers it causes. If other phone companies made their customers aware of this issue, less parents would have to deal with a possible tragedy occurring. Sexting is not a mild problem in our generation today.
It is extremely dangerous and can be taken to extreme bullying measures. Many kids today get bullied or have been bullied after sending nude images of themselves. Overall, bullying occurs on various accounts and for various reasons. According to an article in the Tampa Bay, a girl by the name of Hope who attended Beth Shields Middle School was observed to have cuts on the inside of her wrists by a counselor. She expressed “tons of people talk about me behind my back and I hate it because they call me a whore! “.
After further investigation by the school, they gained knowledge that Hope had sent a nude photo, and suspended her the first week of her eighth grade term. A serious consequence that has impacted Hope, can also be taken by other schools. Not only will such consequences prevent other kids from engaging in such an activity, it will also raise awareness. Sexting is indeed a problem beyond a reasonable doubt, which many teens engage in today. There are many ways to avoid it, although without the help and support of educators, it wouldn’t be possible.
With the ongoing creations of technology today, there are many things that will slip out of the hands of parents. It is important to express the dangers of sexting, and to recognize that it is a severe problem rising among future generations. With the help of cellphone companies, raising awareness to parents and limiting the multimedia messaging, it can benefit everyone who could be a potential target of sexting. With the right approach, it’s truly possible to avoid dangers of sexting.
Works Cited
Andrew Meachmen. “Sexting-related bullying cited in Hillsborough teen’s suicide.” Tampa Bay Times :
HealthLand Time Magazine. 4 out of 5 College Kids Sext. July 5, 2011. March 20,2012
