Doing what, you ask? Sexting. It’s the buzz word for the passing around of nude photos via cell phone, an extremely risky activity that some 20% of teens have engaged in, according to a recent survey from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
For those of you who might be curious about what the big deal is over sexting, think about this: Anyone taking, sending, or keeping nude or sexually explicit photos of a minor—that’s anyone under 18—whether of oneself or someone else could be charged with production, distribution, or possession of child pornography, as defined here by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Quite a disturbing fact, for sure, but the good news is that sexting has become such a hot topic, which is raising awareness about what it is, what the potential ramifications are and why you should avoid involving yourself in it—at all costs. Knowing the facts, you and your friends will naturally help make this a very short-lived trend!
But putting the legal scariness on the backburner for a moment, there are huge implications for people’s school and social life—if they’re ever inclined or pressured into sharing an intimate photo of themselves. As journalist Anne Collier of NetFamilyNews, explains, “it doesn’t always occur to people that a boyfriend or girlfriend could become an ex-boyfriend or -girlfriend, and something shared in confidence can be sent to others out of anger or revenge after a couple has broken up. That distribution of very personal photos can be extremely humiliating and life-changing in a very negative way.”
But even if you yourself never distribute a naked photo of yourself, sending around someone else’s could get you in just as much trouble. Not to mention that, by passing their photo around, you could be adding to their emotional distress. That’s why it’s so important for you to understand what sexting is all about (and why you might want to pass along what you’ve learned here, to your friends)!
