The New Norm : Sexting

They need to understand how sexting can lead to felony charges, humiliation, and more. One of the best ways to protect your teen from depression and other mental health issues, which can be caused by sexting according to recent research, is to talk to them. Let them know all the reasons why sexting is dangerous. For example, it can make them targets for sexual predators and haunt them for a lifetime. Additionally, more and more colleges and employers check online profiles for indications of a candidate’s suitability, compromising photos are a huge red flag. The low self-esteem that often results from sexting or comments about photos shared can also lead to a lifetime of low social status. Moreover, studies found that over 76.2% of teens who sexted on a regular basis and were propositioned during sexting admitted to having sexual intercourse. Another study found that approximately 28% of those became teen parents. Over a third of sexually active sexters ended up in abusive relationships. Many more noted being “slut shamed” in school due to a sext.

In an article titled “Why Kids Sext” Hanna Rosin, tells stories of teenagers who have had recent experiences with sexting. Rosin speaks about a High School in Virginia where there were Instagram accounts containing explicit images of teenage girls of “Every race, religion, social, and financial status in the town. Rich, poor, everyone. That’s what was most glaring and blaring about the situation. If she was a teenager with a phone, she was on there,” said Major Lowe (qtd. In Rosin 388-389). Lowe who worked at the High School, speaks of how over the years he had received many calls from furious parents whose daughters had photos pop up after a breakup with an old boyfriend. This time, however, he knew he had a much bigger

The article supported their claim through collecting data from the website NevaEvaLand, a popular social media page used by girls in low-income areas such as Atlanta, Georgia, to display how different sexual scripts influenced the way girls acted on the internet. Stokes found that there were five groups that most girls would label themselves a part of the, “Freaks, Virgins, Down-Ass Chick, Pimpette, and Resisters” (Stokes 124). After analyzing the five different sexual scripts, the author described the attitude each person carried towards sex and how they acted on the internet. Her reasoning for why the girls acted in the manner they did online was because they were looking for different pleasures out of sexual partners. The Freaks and Down-Ass Chicks were more promiscuous and expressed that on their homepage, while those such as Virgins were finding someone who was fine with abstaining from sex. The data collected made her reasoning effective by providing credible support to her

It is a pattern that emerged in today’s society because it sexually liberating (Van Syckle, 2015). Young women feel that hooking up is a form of controlling their lives (Van Syckle, 2015). However, it can lead to other social problems.

( Meyers, Elizabeth). Being bullied doesn't always lead to suicide your teen may have drops in their grades and they may not want to come to school. So why do teens want to send these sexts? Teens may become curious sex brings curiosity, which in turn can lead to experimentation and exploration this isn't new it’s normal especially in teens. Also peer pressure sometimes play a role in this for example in boys your “guy” friends may have some nude photos on their phones and you don’t if they single you out you are likely to ask a girl to “fit in” or be “cool” but sexting isn't cool. So parents should have discussions with their teen about these things are important because it can bring lots of illegal issues teens under 18 that send “nudes” is considered Child Porngarhy “Possession of child pornography is usually a class C felony, punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment, or one year in jail, and a fine up to $5,000. Promoting child

One specific phenomenon that has emerged with the increase of smart phones and personal technology is the issue of sexting; the sharing or exchange of sexual messages or images (thesocietypages). As the deviant act of youth sexting is more common than parents might realize or want to admit (CNN), Kelly Wallace investigates how youth’s sexual behavior has become normalized through the act of sexting. The article, “Is Your Teen Using Apps to Keep Secrets?” explores how much of today’s youth share sexually explicit messages through the tech savvy world.

A real social danger with sexting is that since all the material send out is digital that person has the same permission you do with that photo. The report by psychologist Raychelle C. Lohmann highlights the risk of severe depression for sexters who lose control of their images and videos. In a study conducted by analyzing sexting behaviors among young adults, it was found that “men would show the sexually-explicit photos of their girlfriends to their friends. (Lohmann)” this is a risk associated with new media, prior to cell phones and email, it would be difficult to quickly distribute photos to acquaintances; with sexting, one can forward a photo in a matter of seconds. The most important negative effect of sexting forms mental health issues. Having your private pictures shared with a mass audience can cause vast “guilt and shame” (Lohmann). As a result, kids who participate in sexting often regret having done so. It also impacts self-esteem leaving them feeling vulnerable and exposed. In addition, “adolescents with sexting could not focus on their studies thus they would lose their academic future.” Students who partaken in sexting tend to skip their classes and cut school (Lohmann). Moreover, sexting is linked to depression, anxiety and an impaired ability to express emotions which could lead to suicide. For example, in “Ohio, Jessica Logan, eighteen years old, decided to

The ability to have cell phones, instant messenger, social networking sites, and picture/video tools online has made it accessible for adolescents to have instantaneous and inexpensive communication methods (Stonard, Bowen, Walker, & Price, 2015; Bryan, Sanders-Jackson, & Smallwood, 2006). Additionally, it has been found that adolescents use technology to establish, maintain, end, and reconnect dating relationships (Draucker & Martsolf, 2010). Several studies have found dating violence was committed through technology by partners checking messages without permission, checking their partner’s location, demanding online passwords, deleting ex-partners or un-friending them from accounts, coercion, harassing partners, threatening or blackmailing a partner by posting online information without consent, stalking, insulting partner, posting images or videos without partners consent, and restricting a partner from using technology as a tool to communicate with others (Drauker & Martsolf, 2010; Stonard et al., 2015; Thompson et al., 2013; Zweig et al., 2013). For example, Draucker and Martsolf (2010) reported technology facilitated escalation of arguments between partners, making it easier for partners to be intrusive and monitor each others behavior. Furthermore, in a qualitative study conducted by Stonard et al. (2015), it was found that technology

According to Merriam Webster sexting is “the act of sending of sexually explicit messages or images by cell phone”. Sexting is a problem because teens can get in trouble not knowing the consequences. Problems come up when these messages or pictures are shared with the wrong people. There are many cases where personal pictures and messages are used to oppress the victim. High school and middle school students should be taught the dangers of sexting. Sexting can lead to self-harm, depression, and even suicide.

This article begins by bringing to light the presence of fear and anxieties when it comes to youth and new media use. (Pascoe, 2011) The author explores how sexual identification and rituals combine with new media use. This is achieved by observing how it plays into teen’s everyday life and relationships. Survey research, direct observation, case studies, and diary studies were used over a period of 2 years, with subjects ranging between the ages of 15-19 years old. (Pascoe, 2011) All were from different locations, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds across the United States. (Pascoe, 2011) 28 researchers, and research assistant compiled the data. (Pascoe, 2011)

The focus of this paper is to help readers gain a deeper understanding on the issue of sexting among young teens and adults from a social science perspective. Specifically, it will examine the differences and similarities in attitudes, behaviors and consequences of sexting as it relates to gender. Through innovative methods, technology provides an opportunity for people all over the world to connect and explore their sexuality. There is an interesting contemporary interaction between technology and sexuality as it relates to sexting. Sexting is the production and distribution of sexually explicit imaged through communication technologies (Walker, Sanci, & Temple-Smith, 2013).

I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the sexting topic. I agree with you that it really comes down to the consenting individuals to determine if it is a negative or positive activity for them to participate in. If both sides are enjoying sexting and the boundaries are set, there is no reason why it should be frowned upon. I do think that there needs to be a discussion about whether or not the other person likes sexting or would like to participate in sexting. It does need to be treated like actual sex. There has to be consent.

Gender in relation to Sexting: .Girls tend to mature faster than boys, That is why some of them are oppressed by men to send photos so as to show they are committed and also tend to follow their fellow girls who are doing the same. Adults, those who are female are also more likely to engage in sexting behaviors compared those who are male (Wysocki & Childers, 2011). A research done on Myspace has found a significant proportion of young people ‘included pictures of revealing sexual poses (59%), partial frontal male nudity (28%), partial frontal female nudity (17%), full male nudity (2%) and full female nudity (6%)’ (Pierce in Patchin and Hinduja, 2010: 201). Ringrose’s (2010) UK based qualitative research explored sexual identity construction

Conjointly, teen magazines have gained much popularity amongst youngsters by providing them with a plethora of information about romantic relationships, fashion trends, friendships and sex-related topics (Joshi, 2012). Explicit details on sexual activities and the losing of virginity were often discussed in such magazines (Kopacz, 2006). An analysis of the top four teen magazines has established that dating and sex were prominent features of the articles published (Kaiser Family Foundation cited in Johnson, 2015). For example, sexual wanting occurred in magazines like Seventeen, CosmoGirl!, United States Edition and Teen and encouraged girls to look more sexually attractive for boys (Joshi, 2012). On the other hand, male youths were found to be actively looking for sexual contents from magazines like Playgirl or Playboy, Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness which subsequently had an increased influence on their romantic and pre-coital sexual behaviours (Bleakley et al. 2011). Thus, adolescents’

Orenstein began her quest for an honest account of today’s hook-up culture as her daughter approached adolescence. Prior to this point in her life, she had only heard from friends about how teenage girls were treated in today’s culture, now she needed to know if this type of culture really did exist. Since she had been chronicling girl’s lives for over twenty-five years, it was an obvious place to start (Orenstein, P., 2016). She interviewed girls, psychologists, sociologists, pediatricians, educators, and journalist to uncover the ugly truth.