And before you say, Oh my kid would NEVER do that! Be aware that overseas studies have shown (and the world is a very small place on-line these days) that 20 to 30 % of teenagers are participating in some form of digital sexual communication; most commonly “sex-ting” nude, semi-nude, or in other ways “suggestive” pictures or videos of themselves on mobile phones, or on chat-sites such as Facebook.
More disturbing, though, is that teens seem to understand that their photos will be passed around; the survey found that 44 percent of teens say it’s common for their sexually explicit images and text messages to be shared with people other than the intended recipient.
There seems to be a general feeling that sexual digital image sharing is not nearly as dangerous as actual physical contact. They can get the thrill of teasing at a distance with no threat of being directly abused, or at least so they think.
What most teens fail to consider is that these images that can be posted on sites such as Youtube which has an unlimited global audience, and once it’s “out-there” you can’t get it back, or retract it. Apart from this, the person or persons viewing these images might actually have the opportunity to meet you in the flesh one day and as far as they are concerned the stage is already set. By the suggestive nature of your “digital profile” you are “up for it” so to speak. It’s all too easy.
In more advanced countries there are now stringent laws that make it possible to prosecute anyone considered under-age from sending images considered sexually explicit of themselves or others. News reports from overseas are increasingly documenting legal repercussions after indecent photos appear online.
This year in the USA, a 17-year-old was charged with possessing child pornography after he posted naked pictures of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend online. In Alabama, authorities arrested four middle-school students for exchanging nude photos of them-selves. In Rochester, N.Y., a 16-year-old boy is now facing up to seven years in prison for forwarding a nude photo of a 15-year-old girlfriend to his friends.
In this country authorities are struggling to keep up with cyber-porn laws and legislation, so teenagers (and the population at large) are more freely able to operate. So basically it’s up to us as parents to educate the youth on the dangers of what may be considered “harmless flirting” of “sexual playfulness”.
One simple step to keep your child out of the “sex-ting images” loop is not to give them a phone with a camera facility. Other tips to pass on to your teens are:
- Use your pin number so that others can’t access your network or details.
- Keep your phone on your person and don’t leave it around for others to use, steal or get information from. Don’t let other people use it.
- Only give out your mobile number to people who are your friends.
- Be careful not to send inappropriate messages or images.
- Taking photos with your mobile camera can be fun but be careful that you don’t include others who haven’t given you permission. This is an invasion of privacy.
- Make sure that your teen is aware of the consequences of saving or sending digital sexual images with their phones. Even images that are stored on their own phones can be made public if the phone is lost or stolen. This can be a highly embarrassing and damaging situation for anyone, even affecting future relationships or employment opportunities.
- Make sure that your teens respect themselves enough not to give in to peer pressure. This can be tough for a teen who wants to “fit in” or may feel they will be excluded from relationships if they are not joining in with the “digital fun”.
