Verizon Parental Controls Center http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action » Sexting: From Concern to Action http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action “Sexting”: a new word in the digital lexicon. And a hot button issue that has piqued the curiosity, ire and concern of everyone from parents to school administrators to policymakers to law enforcement and understandably, mobile carriers such as us. As you may already know, sexting is generally defined as the act of sending sexually explicit photos via cell phones (or over other electronic devices, including computers). In and of itself, the idea of children sexting is eyebrow-raising. Add to the equation a sender or receiver who is under the age of eighteen and suddenly a problem of ever-growing proportions begins to unfold. Getting the word out to kids about the possible ramifications of sexting is the key. Child pornography charges, a jail sentence and having to register as a sex offender should deter them from sending a racy photo of themselves or someone else. And, even if these legal repercussions were to disappear, the emotional fallout would remain as would the effects such a decision could have on their future. Our solution: education. Recently, we partnered with the to create a PSA called “Textual Harassment..... http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/ad_council_logo.jpg WordPress.com News http://en.blog.wordpress.com Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:53:50 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: RobertByrd http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1722 RobertByrd Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:43:31 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1722 Oh and p.s.. If a child is indeed a "text offender" as they say, why does a parent want to see the pictures so bad? Is it not just as bad, if not, worse that an adult is looking at child nudity rather a kid that it was intended for? I don't know, just a thought. AS SOON AS you set eyes on a "sext", you are JUST AS GUILTY as the child. Wait, no you are not. You're GUILTIER because it WAS NOT MEANT FOR YOUR EYES. THAT right there, is a sex offender, and true invasion of privacy. Would you like to watch your children shower too to make sure they keep it PG in there? Come on now. This is just way too ridiculous. I believe a parent holds some control, but nothing as extreme as to what these ^^^^ insatiable and unjust misers are babbling about. Oh and p.s.. If a child is indeed a “text offender” as they say, why does a parent want to see the pictures so bad? Is it not just as bad, if not, worse that an adult is looking at child nudity rather a kid that it was intended for? I don’t know, just a thought. AS SOON AS you set eyes on a “sext”, you are JUST AS GUILTY as the child. Wait, no you are not. You’re GUILTIER because it WAS NOT MEANT FOR YOUR EYES. THAT right there, is a sex offender, and true invasion of privacy. Would you like to watch your children shower too to make sure they keep it PG in there? Come on now. This is just way too ridiculous. I believe a parent holds some control, but nothing as extreme as to what these ^^^^ insatiable and unjust misers are babbling about.

]]> By: RobertByrd http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1720 RobertByrd Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:36:14 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1720 First and foremost, I would like to say this entire situation and simply BARBARIC. I don't care what parents do. Pay bills, buy clothes, provide a home, meals, etc. There are certain UNALIENABLE rights that are entitled to EVERY citizen, no matter what age. Kids and teenagers have every right to their own privacy as do adults. You can't just pick apart certain things and say "well, you can't have this until you're 18 and an 'ADULT'." BUT, you can go and charge 12 and 13 year old kids AS AN ADULT in court. How does that work? You have absolutely no right in regards to your kid's privacy in this dictatorial manner. Ease up. What happens to a kid that's been on complete lockdown when he or she becomes what some of you consider an "adult"? They are suddenly on their own and will have no experience!!! They've had their hand held this whole time and now they're just left out and vulnerable. That's what being a teenager is for. It's to learn how to be an adult. Parents should not, can not, and will not dictate a child's life. They are not there for that reason. They are there to teach their child responsibility, TRUST, and more importantly, HOW TO BE AN ADULT. Not to live their kid's life with them. Go live your own life. Instead of living your kid's, you should sit back and watch them from a distance; and if they start to veer off course, help them back on track. Don't control them the whole time though. It's not fair, and it's not right at all. This can be argued either way, as can many other controversial topics. But the bottom line is, EVERYONE has their rights, and no one should be allowed to manipulate or take them away. It's barbaric. BARBARIC! First and foremost, I would like to say this entire situation and simply BARBARIC. I don’t care what parents do. Pay bills, buy clothes, provide a home, meals, etc. There are certain UNALIENABLE rights that are entitled to EVERY citizen, no matter what age. Kids and teenagers have every right to their own privacy as do adults. You can’t just pick apart certain things and say “well, you can’t have this until you’re 18 and an ‘ADULT’.” BUT, you can go and charge 12 and 13 year old kids AS AN ADULT in court. How does that work? You have absolutely no right in regards to your kid’s privacy in this dictatorial manner. Ease up. What happens to a kid that’s been on complete lockdown when he or she becomes what some of you consider an “adult”? They are suddenly on their own and will have no experience!!! They’ve had their hand held this whole time and now they’re just left out and vulnerable. That’s what being a teenager is for. It’s to learn how to be an adult. Parents should not, can not, and will not dictate a child’s life. They are not there for that reason. They are there to teach their child responsibility, TRUST, and more importantly, HOW TO BE AN ADULT. Not to live their kid’s life with them. Go live your own life. Instead of living your kid’s, you should sit back and watch them from a distance; and if they start to veer off course, help them back on track. Don’t control them the whole time though. It’s not fair, and it’s not right at all. This can be argued either way, as can many other controversial topics. But the bottom line is, EVERYONE has their rights, and no one should be allowed to manipulate or take them away. It’s barbaric.

BARBARIC!

]]> By: nahnah http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1666 nahnah Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:35:41 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1666 Everyone has a good point. But, we need to start in the home. Values, trust, morals etc. With respect in the developemnt in raising our children. They are individual people. They have thoughts and ideas. They want to learn. There is also a time when we only hear what we want to hear out of fear, don't brush it aside tell them why. Even if its embarassing, tell them. Big or small. The trust will build on honesty. And Yes, They are very aware of whats going on around them even when you don't think they are looking at you. We tend to forget the things we do... that can send the wrong message without explainations to back them up. Communicate. Teach. Love. Protect with trust. Everyone has a good point. But, we need to start in the home. Values, trust,
morals etc. With respect in the developemnt in raising our children. They are individual people. They have thoughts and ideas. They want to learn. There is also a time when we only hear what we want to hear out of fear, don’t brush it aside tell them why. Even if its embarassing, tell them. Big or small. The trust will build on honesty. And Yes, They are very aware of whats going on around them even when you don’t think they are looking at you. We tend to forget the things we do… that can send the wrong message without explainations to back them up. Communicate. Teach. Love. Protect with trust.

]]> By: leigh ann http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1659 leigh ann Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:29:20 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1659 I agree there should be a way all texts are automatically sent to the parents email address in order to keep and eye on the kids. My son has a phone, ipod touch and computer access. He is more "techy" than me. I can barely figure out how to use the electronics. I agree there should be a way all texts are automatically sent to the parents email address in order to keep and eye on the kids. My son has a phone, ipod touch and computer access. He is more “techy” than me. I can barely figure out how to use the electronics.

]]> By: Val http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1612 Val Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:50:18 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1612 @Jennie - Yes, privacy is a right, and I don't care how old you are. It is a right which, although not guaranteed to anyone under the age of 18 legally in the United States, is still intrinsic to the human being. Our Declaration of Independence also states that we are all imbued with unalienable rights, and that we are all *created* equal in that respect. That means from birth onwards. With the preceding in mind, any law enabling the rights of any people (eighteen or younger) to be taken away is an act of circumvention of the principles at the foundation of this country. There, I said it. Also, I'm 24 years old, and I don't know how long it's been since *you* were a teenager, but my experience of it was that, the more you oppress and subjugate a young person, the more problems you make for them, and for yourself. Years ago, I was with a girl whose mother had a very similar attitude towards parenting as it seems that you do. The poor girl didn't have a moment to herself, and was treated like a prisoner in her own home 24/7. Her mother once told me her attitude towards her duaghter: "She's in trouble and needs help." The girl did everything she could think of to fight back, all she wanted was to be treated like a person instead of like property, and to be honest, she was never really in any trouble until her mom started getting funny ideas about keeping tabs on her. Do you know where that girl is now? Fresh out of two years incarceration in a woman's prison, violating her probation every five minutes, both selling and addicted to illicit drugs, and pregnant with a child she can't even hope to support, given that her criminal record is preventing her from being hired *anywhere*. The moral of the story is, underage people are very reactive, and while this doesn't mean you should let them run the show, it does mean that for every action you make towards them (including any alienation of their human rights), there will be an equal or greater reaction. In other words, the more you give them towards which to rebel, the more they will rebel. They do it to fight back, to reclaim whatever you try to take from them as people. At the end of a day, children will act the way you treat them. This is true whether you treat them like immature, helpless little things, or like intelligent, mature adults with good heads on their shoulders. The key is using the reactive nature of their current reality to facilitate growth, not prevent it. Therefore, why not protect your children by instilling them with knowledge and responsibility? You know, keep them safe by encouraging them to take care of themselves? Think about it. You might also want to knock it off with the condescension and straw-man arguments. You're not nearly as intelligent as you seem to have convinced yourself. Caleb has a valid point, and he did not make the statement that morals and privacy are the same thing. He said that from *his* perspective, alienation of a human being's privacy is morally wrong. Morals are something the nature of which are specific to each individual, in case you weren't aware. I believe that Caleb was making the statement that just because you *can* doesn't mean that you *should*. "... And these children that you spit on, As they try to change their worlds, Are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through." -David Bowie @Jennie – Yes, privacy is a right, and I don’t care how old you are. It is a right which, although not guaranteed to anyone under the age of 18 legally in the United States, is still intrinsic to the human being. Our Declaration of Independence also states that we are all imbued with unalienable rights, and that we are all *created* equal in that respect. That means from birth onwards. With the preceding in mind, any law enabling the rights of any people (eighteen or younger) to be taken away is an act of circumvention of the principles at the foundation of this country. There, I said it. Also, I’m 24 years old, and I don’t know how long it’s been since *you* were a teenager, but my experience of it was that, the more you oppress and subjugate a young person, the more problems you make for them, and for yourself. Years ago, I was with a girl whose mother had a very similar attitude towards parenting as it seems that you do. The poor girl didn’t have a moment to herself, and was treated like a prisoner in her own home 24/7. Her mother once told me her attitude towards her duaghter: “She’s in trouble and needs help.” The girl did everything she could think of to fight back, all she wanted was to be treated like a person instead of like property, and to be honest, she was never really in any trouble until her mom started getting funny ideas about keeping tabs on her. Do you know where that girl is now? Fresh out of two years incarceration in a woman’s prison, violating her probation every five minutes, both selling and addicted to illicit drugs, and pregnant with a child she can’t even hope to support, given that her criminal record is preventing her from being hired *anywhere*. The moral of the story is, underage people are very reactive, and while this doesn’t mean you should let them run the show, it does mean that for every action you make towards them (including any alienation of their human rights), there will be an equal or greater reaction. In other words, the more you give them towards which to rebel, the more they will rebel. They do it to fight back, to reclaim whatever you try to take from them as people. At the end of a day, children will act the way you treat them. This is true whether you treat them like immature, helpless little things, or like intelligent, mature adults with good heads on their shoulders. The key is using the reactive nature of their current reality to facilitate growth, not prevent it. Therefore, why not protect your children by instilling them with knowledge and responsibility? You know, keep them safe by encouraging them to take care of themselves? Think about it.

You might also want to knock it off with the condescension and straw-man arguments. You’re not nearly as intelligent as you seem to have convinced yourself. Caleb has a valid point, and he did not make the statement that morals and privacy are the same thing. He said that from *his* perspective, alienation of a human being’s privacy is morally wrong. Morals are something the nature of which are specific to each individual, in case you weren’t aware. I believe that Caleb was making the statement that just because you *can* doesn’t mean that you *should*.

“… And these children that you spit on,
As they try to change their worlds,
Are immune to your consultations.
They’re quite aware of what they’re going through.”

-David Bowie

]]> By: Sheree http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1570 Sheree Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:25:02 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1570 It is my responsibility as a parent to raise, nurture, train, educate, protect, prepare and communicate with my children. Parents have been doing it since the beginning of time. I appreciate the efforts that companies and councils make to make the task easier. Talk to your kids, build a report with them folks, build trust, let them know you love them and even if you don't like what they may be saying or doing you will always love them and be there to help without judgment or disappointment. Some might be amazed how easily my two eldest will show me their texts, pics and what have you. Talk to the children in your life about this stuff before it happens to them. Get to know their friends and care about the whole lot of them like they are your own. Be a supportive adult figure to any child involved in your life and open to their ideas and problems. Be a good neighbor and active citizen. Give the children in your life your time, wisdom and example. Teach them their own value and hold to keep that intact. Perhaps if more of us did these things, so many Americans would not have to ask companies and politicians to help us violate the civil rights of our children because we are afraid that "someone" is going to hurt them. Perhaps then we will be able to trust their judgment, their friends and our neighborhoods more It is my responsibility as a parent to raise, nurture, train, educate, protect, prepare and communicate with my children. Parents have been doing it since the beginning of time. I appreciate the efforts that companies and councils make to make the task easier. Talk to your kids, build a report with them folks, build trust, let them know you love them and even if you don’t like what they may be saying or doing you will always love them and be there to help without judgment or disappointment.

Some might be amazed how easily my two eldest will show me their texts, pics and what have you.

Talk to the children in your life about this stuff before it happens to them. Get to know their friends and care about the whole lot of them like they are your own. Be a supportive adult figure to any child involved in your life and open to their ideas and problems. Be a good neighbor and active citizen. Give the children in your life your time, wisdom and example. Teach them their own value and hold to keep that intact.

Perhaps if more of us did these things, so many Americans would not have to ask companies and politicians to help us violate the civil rights of our children because we are afraid that “someone” is going to hurt them. Perhaps then we will be able to trust their judgment, their friends and our neighborhoods more

]]> By: A Parent http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1569 A Parent Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:08:52 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1569 This conversation has been going on for three months an there has been nothing new. The children and pedophiles want their rights, and parents want to protect their children. Basically if Verizon would provide a service to make all texts and pictures available to whomever is paying the bill any parent would sign any waver in blood, and pay any price. No price is too high to protect our children. This conversation has been going on for three months an there has been nothing new.

The children and pedophiles want their rights, and parents want to protect their children.

Basically if Verizon would provide a service to make all texts and pictures available to whomever is paying the bill any parent would sign any waver in blood, and pay any price. No price is too high to protect our children.

]]> By: James http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1464 James Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:32:03 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1464 I agree with all the parents that think they should be able to view their kids texts. They are children and not yet mature enough to know what is right and wrong. Even if we don't veiw their texts, just having them know that we can would make a big difference in how they use the texting. We basically got a phone for our kids, so that we could keep tabs on them more easily, but not so they could text to anyone on anything they wanted. I agree with all the parents that think they should be able to view their kids texts. They are children and not yet mature enough to know what is right and wrong. Even if we don’t veiw their texts, just having them know that we can would make a big difference in how they use the texting. We basically got a phone for our kids, so that we could keep tabs on them more easily, but not so they could text to anyone on anything they wanted.

]]> By: Jennie http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1419 Jennie Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:13:34 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1419 Caleb, you're obviously young. Please look up the word "morally." If you want to talk morals then it would be the complete opposite of what you said. Privacy has nothing to do with morals. Privacy is a write among adults and a privilege among children, i.e. 18 or younger. I don't understand why children seem to think that their privacy is a right. Perhaps if they were paying rent, utilities, for the phone itself, etc. then yes it would be a right, but until then it is right of the parent to monitor if they wish. What is moral is protecting our children today. It is way to easy for predators to become involved with children and take advantage of them. I don't read my daughter's texts; however, if I find my child acting strangely or come across something that sends up red flags I would like access to those texts in order to protect her. My daughter is fairly honest with me. She's told me about pics that boys have sent her of certain body parts. Any more there are girls who's pics get passes around virally only to make them commit suicide. There are monsters who are predatory and before you know it have lured the child into a situation that they can not escape. One you have your own children you will understand; all of you. But until then, don't question why a good parent wants to protect their child. In addition to the violation of privacy, the Constitution gives a person the right to privacy in their own home. It doesn't stipulate a child's privacy in their own bedroom. You want a right to privacy...get your own place. Caleb, you’re obviously young. Please look up the word “morally.” If you want to talk morals then it would be the complete opposite of what you said. Privacy has nothing to do with morals. Privacy is a write among adults and a privilege among children, i.e. 18 or younger. I don’t understand why children seem to think that their privacy is a right. Perhaps if they were paying rent, utilities, for the phone itself, etc. then yes it would be a right, but until then it is right of the parent to monitor if they wish. What is moral is protecting our children today. It is way to easy for predators to become involved with children and take advantage of them. I don’t read my daughter’s texts; however, if I find my child acting strangely or come across something that sends up red flags I would like access to those texts in order to protect her. My daughter is fairly honest with me. She’s told me about pics that boys have sent her of certain body parts. Any more there are girls who’s pics get passes around virally only to make them commit suicide. There are monsters who are predatory and before you know it have lured the child into a situation that they can not escape. One you have your own children you will understand; all of you. But until then, don’t question why a good parent wants to protect their child. In addition to the violation of privacy, the Constitution gives a person the right to privacy in their own home. It doesn’t stipulate a child’s privacy in their own bedroom. You want a right to privacy…get your own place.

]]> By: ShawnMarie http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/sexting-from-concern-to-action/comment-page-1#comment-1357 ShawnMarie Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:39:00 +0000 http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/?p=441#comment-1357 Caleb how many kids do you have? I have 4 girls ages 7-17. Before having personal computers kids read books and wrote to each other. I read the same notes written and was able to be more in the loop. I honestly don't see how you feel it's "morally wrong". Kids are kids and have no rights to that sort of privacy. You leave a kid alone and you're bound to find yourself some trouble. This digital age is a mixed blessing. A good parent is not only in good communication with their kids, they are informed. Every kid makes choices and mistakes. It's our job as parents to oversee them and I can clearly see that you must have run amuck or had seriously liberal parents. Joe mentions kids should have privacy? Well, you know what... even if I had tenants I still have the right to know what's going on in MY house. I pay these bills... I am the one who would be held liable and legally responsible for any untoward activities. Yes, we need to know what our kids are doing, in this technological age. Jenny posts about hating her parents for taking away her phone. Seriously! When they pay the bills...they can buy their own phones n phone plans. Until then...anyone on my network be it pc, mac, or phone/text... is subject to my review of any/all places visited and things texted. An uninformed parent is a very bad thing. should this be a default feature? Perhaps verizon can set up a separate plan. Adding a new line to your plan .... vs ... adding a line for your kids...with option of parental control. It could be that simple. Caleb how many kids do you have? I have 4 girls ages 7-17. Before having personal computers kids read books and wrote to each other. I read the same notes written and was able to be more in the loop. I honestly don’t see how you feel it’s “morally wrong”. Kids are kids and have no rights to that sort of privacy. You leave a kid alone and you’re bound to find yourself some trouble. This digital age is a mixed blessing. A good parent is not only in good communication with their kids, they are informed. Every kid makes choices and mistakes. It’s our job as parents to oversee them and I can clearly see that you must have run amuck or had seriously liberal parents.

Joe mentions kids should have privacy? Well, you know what… even if I had tenants I still have the right to know what’s going on in MY house. I pay these bills… I am the one who would be held liable and legally responsible for any untoward activities.

Yes, we need to know what our kids are doing, in this technological age.

Jenny posts about hating her parents for taking away her phone. Seriously! When they pay the bills…they can buy their own phones n phone plans. Until then…anyone on my network be it pc, mac, or phone/text… is subject to my review of any/all places visited and things texted. An uninformed parent is a very bad thing.

should this be a default feature? Perhaps verizon can set up a separate plan. Adding a new line to your plan …. vs … adding a line for your kids…with option of parental control. It could be that simple.

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