Technology and Sex Essay

In the US today Americans recently discovered an emerging trend known as adolescent sexting. Sexting has been defined as the sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images, messages, or video through a cellphone or the Internet; sexting can also be referred to as sending nudes. As Guidance Counselors at a High School it is imperative that we educate ourselves and our students on the consequences sexting may have. Many students fail to realize that once the photos or messages are sent there is no turning back. Those images/messages may be forwarded to audiences via the internet and various social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat etc. causing humiliation, depression and in some cases even causing suicide.

Sexting is imprudent, untoward, and unfortunately - not all that uncommon. In a recent study of college freshmen, thirty-one percent of the participants reported sending a sexting image of themselves in high school to someone else using a cell phone (Martinez-Prather, 28).This action is a felony crime in Kansas, punishable by up to thirty-four years in jail, a substantial fine, and inclusion on the registered sexual offender list for life (Mobile Media Guard). While this may seem like excessive punishment for sexting, this punishment in not specifically for sexing. Since Kansas has no laws directly related to sexting, when minors are involved in sexting, the laws they have broken are those

Adolescents send messages to others in their schools, groups of friends, and their everyday peers. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy took a survey in 2008 and showed 39% of teenage girls had “sent or posted sexually suggestive messages (or ‘sexts’)” (450). To clarify, this means that young girls are sending naked pictures to people that they are associated with. They also proved 22% of young ladies have used a computerized device to send or upload an unclothed or sensuous photo.

Americans recently discovered an emerging trend known as adolescent sexting. Sexting has been defined as the sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images, messages, or video through a cellphone or the Internet. Sexting can also be referred to as sending nudes. As Guidance Counselors at a High School it is imperative that we educate ourselves and our students on the consequences sexting may have. Many students fail to realize that once the photos or messages are sent, there is no turning back. Those images/messages may be forwarded to audiences via the internet and various social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat etc, causing humiliation, depression and in some cases even causing suicide.

Selina’s Atlantic article takes the story of a sexting scandal in Louisa, VA to make broader claims about sexting. During the discussion of this article we focused on a variety of reasons for sexting. Such reasons include sharing pictures with a trusted partner and believing that everybody is sexting, thus there is a lack of shame among peers. Additionally, sexting is perceived to be the social norm in high school, thus creating the notion that if you do not sext you are in the wrong and considered to be weird. With such motivations, kids and teenagers do not think about the potential repercussions. However, at least 20 states have passed legislation addressing sexting, but the problem is that these laws do not allow for nuance. As such, teens are labeled as sex

“Girls who take nude pictures and then send them to a boyfriend or other boys, are at risk of being “objectified”. As a result, they are at a greater risk of “victimization” and sexual assault because others make assumptions about them based on their “willingness to take and distribute the pictures”. “As bullying, “ridicule” and embarrassment escalates around the sexting, teens can start to feel hopeless and become depressed. They also may “contemplate” suicide. Kids often don’t realize that sexting a boyfriend or girlfriend is not a harmless act. Instead, they can face serious legal ramifications.” “Those who send the photos may be charged with distributing child pornography in some States. And those who receive the photos may be charged with

There has been a time in your life or someone that you may already know that have sexted before. Sexting is an act of digitally talking sexually among two people, whether it is texting or sending photos. Which in this case, a few boys have received sexual photos from their female classmates and has been punished by the Administrator. (Name) had issued a way to deal with sexting by teaching the young adults how to sext responsibly. However, Fox News had said it was not fair for only the boys to get punish, but the girls did not. Although the females did not get punish, it is the boy’s fault for sending those sexual photos around. Due to that incident, the victims will eventually come across sexual harassment, insecurity and permanent damage emotionally and mentally.

As mentioned in the textbook, Adolescence, in recent times text messaging has become the ultimate way that adolescents use to connect with their friends, defeating face-to-face, e-mail, instant messaging, and voice calling (Santrock, 425). With this new trend has come a new frenzy: teen “sexting”. The term “sexting” is use to describe a wide variety of activities: it can be used for producing and sending images of oneself, receiving images directly from the producer, or forwarding received images to other people. Although, the majority of attention has been directed toward “sexting” via cell phone, the term can apply to any digital media, such as e‐mail, instant messaging, and social networking sites. However, the term is most commonly associated with minors, and girls are more likely to the victims. For this reason, teen “sexting” is an increasing concern among parents, educators, and law enforcement officials.

“Later this month, a North Carolina high school student will appear in a state court and face five child pornography-related charges for engaging in consensual sexting with his girlfriend” (Farivar). While, “Some people may see sexting as an expression of their sexuality…it raises issues of consent, privacy, harassment, and legality” (Sexting). “Sexting is a term created from the combination of the words sex and texting. It refers to the practice of electronically sending sexually explicit images or messages from one person to another. Basically, in layman's terms, if you send and/or receive a nude or semi-nude picture, you are sexting. There are serious consequences that come with this practice” (Rossman). The present-day punishments of underage

According to research, approximately “39% of teens between the ages of 13-19 years old have sent at least one sext message and 48% have received one sext message. Of the teens who sext, 63% said the photos were sent to a boyfriend/girlfriend, 29% said they sent them to somebody they were casually dating, 19% sent these photos to someone they didn’t know well and only met through a chatting app and 24% sent them to someone they only knew online. As for the reasons teens sext, 49% said it was harmless fun, 39% said they did it to receive photos back, 16% thought it was a normal thing to do, 16% said they did it because everybody else was doing it and 13% said they were pressured into sexting.”

According to The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families, a clinical report, Sexting is defined as sending, receiving or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs or images via cell phone, computer or other digital devices. A national survey by the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com found a surprising 20 percent of teens from ages 14-18 have participated in sexting. Though both genders seem to be sending sexually explicit or vulgar messages, 71% of teenage girls are more probable to send inappropriate photos of themselves, particularly to their boyfriends compared to teenage boys who only do it 67% of the time. However, this is not the worst part. 36% of teenage girls

Sexting is not only restricting between teenagers but also happens between adults and adolescents, and the result of such events often miserable. To protect children from sexting, support a safety Internet environment is the bottom requirement.

One serious issue is sexting, Sexting among teens is not only illegal, but harmful and dangerous among the sender and the receiver. Both are held responsible for child pornography and can be dealt serious consequences. Sexting causes an increase in teen suicides, anxiety self-esteem and involves pressure meaning another forum cyberbullying. Exposing these pornographic photos will not only stress the deliverer but lead to sexual harassment in conclusion.

Sexting refers to sending, receiving, forwarding a text message that have sexual content or pictures. Research shows that more and more people are using technology today and that sexting has become much more powerful and easier than before. With the use of smartphones and social media sites such as Facebook or WhatsApp; a picture can go viral (sent by a lot of people at the same time) and once it is out there, there is no way of getting it back because you won’t know how many people have saved, tagged it or shared it on their phones or computers.

In recent years the new phenomenon among teens has been sexting. To try and take control of this the court systems have started to charge teens for sexting. Just in September a North Carolina Teenage couple faced felony charges for sexting. Studies show that 39% of all teens have said that they have sent sexually suggestive messages, while 48% of all teens have said that they have received suggestive messages. Does the majority of teenagers think that sexting is ok? No, 75% of teenagers say that sending sexually suggestive content can have serious negative consequences. This may lead you to think well if they know, sexting can cause negative consequences then, why do they do it? Everyone knows that teenagers do some of the craziest things sometimes. With more teenagers having access to cell phones it aide teenagers in being able to send and receive nude photos. This is why I believe that charging a teenager with a felony to try and deter other teenagers from sexting is the wrong way of handling the