Sexting has blown up all over the news in recent years, but is it really that new of a thing? I really don’t think. Sexting is defined as the act of sending sexually explicity messages or photos electronically, typically between mobile phones. Teens are getting cell phones at a younger and younger age these days. Do you think this could have something to do with sexting becoming a public issue? That they are sending these photos and not understanding what the consequences of it might be, maybe? Or could it be that because of sexting there is no hiding that teens are sexual individuals? There was one article I read that stated, “and while this may raise a few eyebrows when done by adults it raises a lot more concern when the ones doing the sexting are kids”. As many as one in five teens are involved in this activity. Many states have established laws to try and diminish the amount of sexting going on among our teens.
Ruling on sexting
Teen Sexting
Did this happen in your high school? I know many people who sent messages to their significant other and nobody thought it was a big deal. However, there was a girl who sent a video to a boy and he decided to send it around. I didn’t go to a small school, but still everyone knew.
In your opinion, why is sexting such a big deal? Do you feel punishments for this activity are too harsh? Too lenient? Who do you think is pushing law makers to step and “fix” this issue?
Lauren
I do think "sexting" is a new phenomenon. Cell phone usage is still fairly new and the idea that all phones are equipped with a camera and sms services is fairly new too. Cell phone's were not a necessity twenty years ago, so we have to think that our parents and older generations did not grow up with cell phones like we are. Thus, cell phones are changing the way we communicate with each other. People tend to text or use other technology to communicate rather than speak to each other in person. We lack interaction physically but at the same time, are more interactive than ever. Sexting, from what I gathered with your post, is defined in two ways. As young adults accustomed to a life where relationships occur via texting and facebook, sexting seems normal and harmless. However, it is not. I think sexting is a raunchy act that can lead to horrible consequences. Flirting via texts are OK, but sending pictures can potentially ruin your entire career and reputation given the person recieving them choses to ever publicize them. The rules you attached do not appear to be referring to this type of sexting. Those proposed legislation are meant to protect minors. The idea behind them is to protect minors from child pornography or sexual exploitation through all mediums. If the law does not explicitly state that texting a naked photo of a child is a form of child pornography, then lawyers may have a way to defend sex offenders in the court system and let them off free. I think these laws are necessary to protect children and youth, but I think they need to be more thoroughly explained. They do not cover flirting or chatting about sexual acts like sexting is thought of; their purpose is to make sure sex offenders do not use texting or mobile devices as a way to send and receive pornography. I don't think many people were sexting when I was in high school though I think if people were it was probably a private act they didn't share with their friends. I think since we know teens are sexting, and especially since young celebrities are repeatedly getting ousted for sexting, it is a topic that should be covered in sex ed classes. However, we all know how those go, so it is basically up to the children themselves to stay educated. MTV is running a campaign on sexting safety and I think they are doing a pretty good job. It's not a problem for lawmakers, nor necessarily a problem until it is abused. Then, we have to decide what lines to cross in deciding what is speech, so that is a whole new battle. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next five years.
ReplyDelete-Alison Gammon
I agree that "sexting" is fairly new. With all of the technology our generation is growing up with, there are bound to be new ways of communication. I do think it is important that there are laws regarding photos sent via sexting between teens that are far apart in age or a minor sexting with an older person. It is important to protect kids from child pornography. I think parents are going to be the ones pushing for lawmakers to step up to the plate because I don't know of any parent that wants to think of their child sending explicit photos of themselves through a text message, just like parents want to pretend their teens aren't sexually active. Although when I was in high school I didn't here many stories about people "sexting" I think the problem is probably increasing and is becoming a part of some teens sexuality. Therefore, I do think sexting needs to be mentioned during sexual education classes so teens are aware of the risks involved when sending pictures and whatnot. However, if adults have a hard time coming to terms with teens having sex and teaching them about it, I think they are going to have just as hard of a time accepting that some of them may be "sexting." This just adds to the lists of battles of sexual education.
ReplyDeleteJessie Pietroburgo
Kids definitely did this at my school, but there was never a school-wide incident. I think sexting is dangerous because once you make something digital you have to be prepared to have the rest of the world see it. I don't think that the kids who do this realize how quickly and widely something personal could be spread through the internet.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the kids themselves should be punished for sexting. But as for non-minors soliciting these activities, it's the same as distributing porn on the internet, so the consequences should be the same. I definitely think that parents and schools need to teach kids the reality of information spread on the internet and how abuse of trust can be dangerous to their privacy.
I think it's mostly parents and school officials pushing for anti-sexting. I'm sure parents don't want compromising images of their children being spread, and school officials should always be looking out for the safety of their students.
-Ryan Cuscaden
I do believe that sexting is definitely getting more and more common. I can't say I have ever done it myself, but there were plenty of kids in my high school who did. I personally don’t think its happening just because kids are getting cellphones at a younger age though. Let's face it, technology is growing and growing. Kids are exposed to a lot more things today than I was at their age. Even billboards and commercials, sex is everywhere and kids are getting exposed to it at a much younger age. People seem to just be more open about sex in general these days as well.
ReplyDeleteThis might have just been in my high school, but there were a few girls who got pregnant which was unheard of. Now there are two 7th graders who are pregnant and made a “pregnancy pact” together. Although I think sexting is probably getting more and more out of control, I do think everything else is too. I feel as though promiscuity is hitting kids at younger ages.
That being said sexting really should be taken seriously. It’s true that these kids are doing things at a younger age, which means that is before they fully know right from wrong. I remember being “young and in love” – well that’s what I thought at the time. Thinking you could show or tell your boyfriend anything and he would not show his friends - now I look back and laugh about it. These young kids who are sexting are wrapped up in that naïve state of mind and something like that could follow them as they grow up and really ruin their reputation at an early age. So yes, I think school officials, and parents need to make sure that kind of thing does not go on among youth. Now once you are considered an adult, living on your own, and doing your own thing, I think those decisions can be made on your own. But teenagers do not know better, their hormones are just going crazy.
Amanda A