2.  Sexting is sending sexually explicit text and pictures from your cell phone.  Sexting usually refers to sharing nude photos thru your cell phones or the internet.  Sexting refers to using cell phones to send sexual pictures and messages to each other.

3. YES!

4.  Many “sexts” will be transmitted beyond the original person who received the “sext”.  The “sext” can be forwarded to other people, posted on a public site, like MySpace or FaceBook, or even displayed on computers in school.  So, what was meant for 1 person can actually end up being seen by 100s of people!

5.  More than half of the world’s population now owns a cell phone.  20% of teens say they have sent/posted nude or seminude pictures or videos of themselves. 11% were teen girls between the ages of 13- 16.  Almost 40% of all teens have sent or posted sexually suggestive messages.

6.  51% of teen girls say pressure from a guy is a reason girls send sexy messages or images; only 18% of teen boys cited pressure from girls as a reason.  23% of teen girls and 24% of teen boys say they were pressured by friends to send or post sexual content.  *Statistics taken from www.webwisekids.orgwww.webwisekids.org

7.  Don’t take or send nude or sexually suggestive photos of yourself or anyone else.  If you do, you can be charged with producing or distributing child pornography.  If you keep them on your phone, you can be charged with possession of child pornography.  If they go to someone in another state, it’s a federal offense.

8.  Emotional damage and embarrassment that can come from having intimate photos of yourself go to a friend who can become an ex-friend, who in order to hurt you, sends them to everyone.  Your reputation is ruined and can affect you by being removed from extracurricular activities at school and you can even be suspended or expelled.

9.  Do use your cell phone for fun and to communicate and stay connected with your friends and family.  Do remember that what you post or text message about others can be out there in cyberspace FOREVER.  Do talk to an adult you trust if you have sent or received any messages that were harmful or made you feel uncomfortable.

10.  DO NOT take or forward nude pictures to ANYONE. Once you send or post a picture, you can never get it back. These pictures could be illegal and consequences include, expulsion from school, jail, and registering as a sex offender.  DO report any nude pictures you receive on your phone to an adult you trust.  DO try just talking with your friends the old fashioned way (on the phone) instead of just text messaging all the time.

11.  www.webwisekids.com www.webwisekids.com  www.thatsnotcool.com www.thatsnotcool.com  www.loveisrespect.org www.loveisrespect.org

12. RESPECT YOURSELF AND RESPECT OTHERS ALWAYS!