Teens and Technology Part 1: Is your teen girl sexting?
Thanks to the Internet and other technological advancements, people no longer have to wait to communicate or gather information. Anything and everything is readily available with the click of a mouse, great news for today’s fast-paced society.
But what would you do if someone told you they found sexy (or nude) images of your teenage daughter online? Would you believe them, or would you have to see the pictures for yourself? Would you even want to see them?
Image By Pink Sherbet Photography
The fact is that today’s youth are technologically savvy, and not just in Web surfing. The National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy estimated this year that roughly 20 percent of teens participate in “sexting” – sending sexual images via text messages.
This is just one of many forms of technological promiscuity, and the trend is growing.
Where They Do It
Technology has provided ample opportunities for teens to engage in sexual behavior. Chat rooms host the crimes of pedophiles worldwide, and social-networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace enable youth to create racy profiles. Sexting is a more convenient, spur-of-the-moment form of flirtation that takes place between teens of all ages via cell phone or instant messaging.
Why They Do It
Sexting is due to far more than raging teenage hormones…it’s the result of low self-esteem. Teenagers (particularly girls) who crave acceptance will go to any lengths to receive it, especially if it’s not readily available at home. Add onto that the fact that school is often a competition about who’s prettier or more popular, and the idea of sending sexy images becomes even more appealing.
In our next segment on Teens and Technology, we’ll discuss what parents can do to prevent this and other forms of technological promiscuity.
See Part 2 of our Teens and Technology Series: Monitor Your Teenage Daughter’s Behavior
Angie Woodward is a Registered Nurse in Wyoming and is the founder and owner/director of Trinity Teen Solutions, Inc. TTS is a licensed Christian Boarding School for at risk teen girls and their families. Call 307-645-3384 for a free consultation.
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