Huckleberries Online

15% Of Teens Get ‘Sext’ Messages

Posted by DFO

Dec. 17, 2009 9:28 a.m. • 7 comments

Nearly one-sixth of teens who own cell phones have received nude or nearly nude images via text message from someone they know, according to a new survey on “sexting” from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The national telephone survey confirms parent and teacher worries that young people are using cell phones to send out and receive sexually explicit images of themselves and of romantic partners/CNN. More here.

Question: Have you had any discussions with your teens or other youths re: the dangers of ‘sexting’?

Seven comments on this post so far. Add yours!

moscow_minidoka on December 17 at 9:44 a.m.
There’s a really easy way to prevent teens from sexting - don’t give them a cell phone. Problem solved.
coeurgenx on December 17 at 11:59 p.m.
interesting only one comment so far. If older Citiweens new HOW to text, this wouldn’t be a thread. Makes me think that most of the HBO Blogmiesters dont know how to text!
spokelooneh on December 18 at 12:23 a.m.
“If older Citiweens new (sic) HOW to text, this wouldn’t be a thread.”

How ageist of you, coeurGENX. I’m way beyond GENX and I’ve “sexted” to my paramour, how shocking! It’s an inferior means of communication in that fashion, but don’t assume your elders don’t know about it.
DFO on December 18 at 12:34 a.m.
@ CoeurGenX re: “Makes me think that most of the HBO Blogmiesters dont know how to text!”

I prefer texting over cell phoning. It’s quicker and gets the message across as simply as possible. I don’t go as far as Spoke when it comes to texting (too much information!) but I do text, even have a fancy little keyboard on my cell phone to boot. I’d better there are many other Hucksters who don’t fit your stereotype either re: texting.
spokelooneh on December 18 at 2:07 a.m.
Good god, there’s no shame in sending a loving and sexually suggestive text to a loved one, on occasion. It’s merely part of the dance when separated, flirting. Doing such ALL the time, that’s another matter entirely.
nic on December 18 at 8:25 a.m.
“there’s no shame in sending a loving and sexually suggestive text to a loved one”

I’d agree with you to a certain extent. My wife and I flirt via texxt messages but we don’t send pitcures.

But there’s a few problems with the teenaged sexting craze.

1. Those sexually suggestive pictures aren’t always being sent to a loved one. Sometimes they’re sent to someone the kid is mildly interested in. Sometimes they’re passed around between buddies as in “check out what this chick just sent me.” It’s locker room talk on a whole new level.

2. If the pictures are only suggestive then it’s not a big deal. But the pictures many teens are texting often bear all, leaving nothing to be suggested. And because many these kids are under aged, the law could consider it child pornography. If some girl texts a nude picture of herself to her boyfriend and he uploads it to the web as revenge after they break up… that make the boy guilty of distributing kiddie porn, and the girl could also be charged as the creator of said nude photos.

You’re correct that there’s no harm flirting with a loved one via texts, but more often than not kids are venturing into what could be harmful.
spokelooneh on December 18 at 10:06 a.m.
Agree with ya there, nic.

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.