Sexting: Know the Facts | Teen Ink

Sexting: Know the Facts MAG

September 15, 2009
By Katie Bachman BRONZE, Auburn, New York
Katie Bachman BRONZE, Auburn, New York
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

High-tech has created a new low. The term “sexting” is a combination of the words sex and texting, and refers to the practice of sending sexually ­explicit photos electronically, mainly by cell phone. The incidents of sexting have dramatically increased in the past few years; 20 percent of teens said they had sent a sexting message, according to a 2008 study commissioned by the National ­Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Cosmogirl.com. Though many in our generation are taking part, few understand the serious consequences of this irresponsible fad.

Recent advances in technology have revolutionized the way we interact socially. Cell phones and e-mail have changed the way we communicate but have led to dangerous and ­destructive behavior. While some teens may think sexting is fun or harmless, this new craze can have devastating consequences. When a photo or video is sent to another person, privacy is lost forever. The content can be broadcast to anyone. The original sender has no control once he or she presses “send.”

The consequences of sexting can be ­severe, ranging from embarrassment to ­imprisonment or worse. Explicit photos or videos forwarded from person to person can cause embarrassment for the original sender. Many teens don’t realize that once they hit “send,” control of who else sees that compromising photo is now completely up to the recipient. You may think you know your friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend, but can you trust them forever?

Many young people who thought sexting was a harmless game ended up having their lives destroyed. In one tragic incident, Jesse Logan, an 18-year-old from Ohio, was mercilessly humiliated after explicit photos she had sexted to a boyfriend ended up circulating among her peers. She eventually killed herself.

Imagine being convicted of the crime of child pornography and serving five year’s probation. You are rejected by colleges, lose your friends, and have to move because your home is too close to a school. You’re unable to get a job, and you have to register as a sex ­offender until you are 43. That’s exactly what happened to Phillip Alpert, a Florida 18-year-old. He ruined his life by circulating nude pictures of his girlfriend (which she had sent him), by texting them to his friends, her friends, and her family. The legal problem: she was only 16 and a minor; distributing explicit photos of a minor constitutes child pornography. The real problem: like many teenagers, he did not understand the long-term consequences of his actions.

Sexting may seem like harmless fun, but teens should think twice before hitting the “send” button. There is no turning back once a message is sent.



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This article has 186 comments.


Jessbug SILVER said...
on Nov. 20 2011 at 4:23 pm
Jessbug SILVER, Jersey City, New Jersey
9 articles 22 photos 52 comments

Favorite Quote:
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
—Ernest Hemingway

Ha, what a joke! I wonder how much you actually know about the subject. In my experience, guys have sent me waay more nude pics than I've sent them. (Yes, I realize sexting is bad and stupid. I don't do it anymore. It was a mistake of my past) The stuff you hear about always seems to be girls, but that's probably because boys are more likely to spread that to others than girls are.

Jessbug SILVER said...
on Nov. 20 2011 at 4:19 pm
Jessbug SILVER, Jersey City, New Jersey
9 articles 22 photos 52 comments

Favorite Quote:
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
—Ernest Hemingway

How is it degrading to women?

on Nov. 20 2011 at 3:54 pm
someone should sneak his phone when hes not there and then delete the pictures

on Nov. 14 2011 at 5:17 am
muna.najihah PLATINUM, Malacca, Other
25 articles 14 photos 26 comments

Favorite Quote:
if life was given two choices, to become a writer or a character, I will choose to become a writer.
I have the power to decide what my life should be.

VERY TRUE. I strongly believe that this fact can really cause a severe effect on one's future. it is undeniable that this is still going on in our daily life of people around us. I just wish after they read your article, they realize just how bad it is to sexting

TaurusGal GOLD said...
on Oct. 30 2011 at 1:27 am
TaurusGal GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
13 articles 25 photos 107 comments
I totally agree with you !

TaurusGal GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2011 at 11:31 pm
TaurusGal GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
13 articles 25 photos 107 comments
True, that have to face the consequences for everything they have done.

on Oct. 29 2011 at 3:42 pm
literaryaddict PLATINUM, Albuquerque, New Mexico
23 articles 3 photos 157 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We're almost there and no where near it. All that matters is that we're going." Lorelai Gilmore, Gilmore Girls
"The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound." Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

I know this is completely random, but I am very curious about your username. What does it mean?

on Oct. 29 2011 at 1:17 pm
PhilosophicalLinx BRONZE, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
3 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
" I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."
-socrates

very informative, and a moving short story to support this issue, and the stance you have taken. B+

on Sep. 15 2011 at 10:44 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

While that's true, it's nowhere near as often as the girl sending it to her bf.

jaylw GOLD said...
on Sep. 15 2011 at 8:53 pm
jaylw GOLD, Southgate, Michigan
18 articles 8 photos 44 comments
good job, you should check out my artical on sexting, its diffrent but its importand share with friends if you want to get the point accross

on Sep. 15 2011 at 5:40 pm
Come-n-Gone GOLD, Unionville, Missouri
10 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isn't it funny how it only takes a few seconds to say hi, but forever to say goodbye?

There's this girl i know that sent nude pictures of herself, and now she's not aloud to break up with him or else he'll send the pictures to her parents and all her friends. Now she doesn't have a real life. And people have told her boyfriend that she was cheating on him just to watch her get in trouble. It's horrible!

on Sep. 15 2011 at 12:56 pm
Freedom.ThroughPens GOLD, Alpharetta, Georgia
17 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” -Einstein

Sexting might be wrong in some people's eyes, but ultimately, the person actually doing the sexting is the one responsible. Therefore, I'm a firm believer in letting the teen figure out their mistake on their own. 

sexysusan said...
on Sep. 11 2011 at 5:05 pm
i believe that sexting is wrong but people should do what they want they'll have to get there consiquences

bonez2k12 said...
on Aug. 2 2011 at 6:01 am
bonez2k12, St.thomas, Other
0 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"What don't kill me can only make me stronger"

I notice that some of you talk about the girls sending naked pictures to their boyfriends, but it goes the other way around too, males send pictures around too

on Aug. 2 2011 at 12:14 am
ohheyyyelli SILVER, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
5 articles 3 photos 178 comments
I know two girls who went out and had a nasty break-up, one of them posted a picture of an unmetionable body part on facebook and wrote awful things about her. Not only does in come with consequences but it's just trashy and demoralizing.

on Jun. 19 2011 at 2:47 am
Autumn-Rain SILVER, West Lafayette, Indiana
9 articles 1 photo 74 comments
This is really well written, and straight to the point. It makes people really think it through and decide for themselves if it's worth it.

on Jun. 19 2011 at 2:44 am
Autumn-Rain SILVER, West Lafayette, Indiana
9 articles 1 photo 74 comments
I agree that I think Sexting is wrong. But I alsi think that we really need to respect other's opinions. Who know's, maybe they're right. We can argue for our opinion. But in the end it's up to each person to decide what they beleive.

on May. 28 2011 at 2:43 pm
theprincess95 BRONZE, Cloverdale, California
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Well behaved women rarely make history- Marilyn Monroe

My best friend has had pictures of her circulated around our high school and I don't think it's worth it!  If you trust the person enough to send them something like that, you should have enough confidence to just show them in person.  Sexting is stupid and WAY irresponsible.  Watch out for yourselves ladies.  Don't get talked into it

momofsix said...
on May. 16 2011 at 12:58 am
Felt it was important for you to understand that it is words as well as pictures. A child here wrote some pretty descriptive texts to a girl and was prosecuted. Please know that you do NOT have to take part in this. If someone should ever ask you to sexted with them pictures or words, or if you have one sent to you, it is important that you tell an adult, teacher, parent, doctor, authority such as the police. It has to be stopped right away and if you report it then the right people can step in and get the situation under control.

on May. 6 2011 at 7:07 pm
sarah4president SILVER, Santa Clara, California
6 articles 5 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
répondez s'il vous plaît

well written.