"Sexting"

I was reading an article on CNN today that talked about "sexting". It is a nude picture or sexual image of a person being sent from one person to another via a cell phone. It often happens when a teen "falls in love" and then sends a revealing picture of themselves to their boyfriend or girlfriend.

That in itself is a dangerous thing to do. If that relationship ever breaks up then the person who has the image on their phone can then send that image to anyone via their phone or they could upload the image on to the internet, Suddenly what was supposed to be a private image is now available to everyone in the world with a computer and the internet to see.

Another way this is done, is by kids with cell phones taking pictures of other people when they are not looking. This could happen in a locker room or bathroom at a school. It could happen with someone who wants to embarrass another person. A cell phone is a potentially dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong person, with wrong motives.

I was talking with a parent tonight who was talking about Christmas gifts for his nine year old boy. He told me he was thinking about getting him a cell phone. I think nine might be a little young for a child to have a cell phone.

Children and teenagers do not have the ability to predict the ramifications of decisions that are made when they are still so young. We need to educate our youth about how to protect themselves and others from the potential harm others may want to do to them. It is sad that we have come to that place.

How prevalent is this sexting problem? According to the stats one in six teens has been involved in sending pictures of others via their cell phone. In addition 4% of teens who were 12 years old had done the same thing.

Thoughts...