Anti-Sexting Awareness By Ashley Trimble

What is sexting? Sexting is when people sent or receive sexually suggestive, nude or explicit photos of people they know. They can use a cellphone to send these, or post them online.

Why should I sext? You shouldn’t. Sexting is inappropriate, and dangerous. Here are five facts about sexting, and how parents can prevent it.

Fact 1. In a study, they found that teens involved with sexting were more likely to have been psychologically distressed, depressed and/or suicidal.

Fact 2. There is a link between sexting and depression or increased suicidal risk, or so there seems to be.

Fact 3. Don’t think you would ever sext? Well in the Boston area high schools, 13 percent said they received sext messages.

Fact 4. One in ten of the 13 percent of Boston students (mentioned in previous slide) has either forwarded, sent, or posted inappropriate pictures.

Fact 5. 10% of boys and 11% of girls had sent sexually related pictures in the past year, and 6% of males and 4% of females had had images of themselves sent.

How can a parent prevent it? Parents can set family rules for cell phone usage. If the phone is a smartphone, they can password protect it so no one else can get in. Parents can charge the phone in the kitchen, or in a central location so their phone doesn’t wake them up.

The End