A recently published report from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy suggests that about 20% of teens (ages 13-19) and an incredible 33% of young adults (ages 20-26) have shared nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves either over mobile phone SMS text messages or by posting on the web. Teenage girls are slightly more likely to do this than boys and a very disturbing 11% of the young teen girls (ages 13-16) admitted to sending inappropriate photos of themselves.
The Nielsen Company and the Pew Research Center studies show a handful of factors that should be troubling to parents and guardians. These topics are also an opportunity for software solutions companies. There is a rise in the number of teens that use cellular phones, the amount of texting they do, and potentially much more serious the number of youths that participate in “sexting” – the sending of provocative images or text messages from mobile phones.
Why the fuss and bother? Just innocent fun, youth exploring their new sexuality?
Think again. Transmitting a sexually explicit image of a child might be a sex crime. Young people are being arrested, convicted and are being required to register as sex offenders. They are risking more than emotional distress and humiliation, convictions can trigger a restriction of school activities, such as sports, denial of college admission, and denial of student loan eligibility, and losing jobs. A felony conviction can also affect future employment opportunities, including law enforcement and other high-security clearance positions. In other words, they’re ruining their lives over a little “innocent” fun.
Consider that if a sixteen year old sends a sexting photo of themselves - they could be breaking child pornography statues in most states.
Getting convicted in criminal court for “sexting” will result in other serious consequences. In addition to the potential jail sentence and/or fine imposed by the court, registration may be stipulated with the Sex Offender Registration Board for the next 20 years. Additionally, the felony court may order the forfeiture and destruction of the computer or digital devices used.
As sending text messages from cell phones has become a centerpiece in youth social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly worried about the role of cell phones in the sexual lives of teenagers. A new research study from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (pewinternet.org/topics/Teens.aspx) concluded that four percent of cell phone using young people ages 12-17 indicate they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to other people via SMS text messages. This practice is commonly known as “sexting” in the current vernacular. Additionally, fifteen percent say they have received these kinds of images images of someone they already know via text message.
According to a study from marketing research firm The Nielsen Company (blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/under-aged-texting-usage-and-actual-cost/) American young people transmit an undreamed of average of ten SMS text messages per hour that they are not in school or sleeping – and most likely a lot during school too!
By evaluating more than 40,000 monthly US mobile telecom bills, Nielsen found that American teens sent an average of an astonishing 3,146 text messages every month during the third quarter 2009.
Their younger counterparts – tweenagers - ages 9-12 years old sent about 1,100 text messages each month. That that averages out to about four every hour they were in school or not sleeping. In comparison, the average number of monthly texts sent by all mobile phone users collectively was a little more than 500. In the fourth quarter 2009, tweenage users aged nine to twelve increased SMS usage by 8% just about doubling the quantity of text messages.
Pew Research points out that sexting occurs usually under one of three different scenarios: The first, involves exchanges of images just between two romantic partners;
the next, lists exchanges between partners that are then shared outside the relationship; followed by, exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but with one person hoping there will be one hopes to be}.
Teenagers were interviewed and gave researchers a variety of reasons behind the motivation to participate in sexting. These included the researcher’s interpretation that “…sexually suggestive images had become a form of relationship currency,”; that sexting images “… are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity,” and that SMS text message sexting is a way of starting or maintaining a relationship. Sensitive images are also passed along to friends “… for their entertainment value, as a joke, or for fun.”
Teens also shared with researchers the pressure they feel to share sexual pictures. Not surprisingly the report revealed that teenagers who are more intense users of cell phones are more likely to to be sent sexually suggestive images. For these teenagers, the phone has become such a common means for communication and a variety of content that turning it off is nearly unthinkable.
The combination of risk-taking and sexual exploration during the teenage years mixed with routine connection via mobile phones and other mobile devices “…creates a ‘perfect storm’ for sexting,” said Pew’s Amanda Lenhart. “Teenagers have always grappled with issues around sex and relationships, but their coming-of-age mistakes and transgressions have never been so easily transmitted and archived for others to see.”
Despite some indications that per user usage has peaked, Nielsen estimates that overall SMS usage will grow as the avid user population ages and entices the older generations to text with them in order to keep in contact with them. Existing SMS users will continue to use texting extensively and as tweenagers age they will increase usage. The average number of text messages per user has increased every year, and there is room for growth.
If you’ve got kids then you’re probably not surprised by the usage numbers. But chances are you’re also either in denial that your kids are involved in sexting, or you’re actively seeking solutions to the problem. In all probability most parents can’t believe their kids are involved with sexting, or they are looking for ways to find out. While parents may be upset that all the texts their teens and tweens are sending are going to break the bank, Nielsen analysis shows the average cost of a single text message is only about one penny. The real issue affecting families is not so much how often teens use their phones but more about how they use their phones, and when they are using them.
Sexting is a very complex topic. Consequently, it is very hard to provide guidance on how best to manage these situations. The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children policy states that there are four roles to every sexting case: the person seen in the image, the person who took the image, the distributor(s) of the picture, and the recipient(s) of the photo. In some cases one person may assume more than one of these roles (e.g., a child takes a sexually explicit photo, of herself and sends it to a classmate). In other situations, multiple people may take on a single role (e.g., a child takes a sexually explicit picture of himself and sends it to a classmate who then forwards the photo to the entire high school senior class). It is important to think about the intentions and motives of each of the parties under different circumstances.
The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children advocates parents monitor cell phone use. A workable technological solution available for parents and guardians to find out what teens are doing~what’s going on with their teenagers} is cell phone technology.
Celebrated rights lawyer Gloria Allred addressed the legal penalties of “sexting” that parents and teens may ignore:
Teenagers conducting “sexting” activities – those that exchange sexually explicit photos, are at risk of potential criminal charges for child pornography OR criminal use of a communication device, and in some states, face the exposure of having to register as a sex offender – a stigma that could haunt them the rest of their lives
Not only do teens who occupied with “sexting” face the risk of criminal prosecution and the prospects of going to jail and/or probation, which will potentially remain on their criminal record for the indefinite future, they also face the prospect of the possibility of being required by the Court to register as sex offenders.
Sexting can be illegal. Parents are responsible to do something about it. Especially considering low cost solutions can be ordered over the internet. A very good software package that includes remote control of cell phone settings, and combines Mobile Phone Tracking with SMS text message, Call Log, MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle.
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