Navigate

JOIN SMART YOUTH

If you want to make a difference and help others while learning about sexual health and keeping yourself safe, then you need to join SMART Youth! You can come to any of our events around the city or come to one of our movie nights or Open Mic events. Check out our schedule to learn what we are doing or e-mail sync.nyc@gmail.com.

Friday, January 18, 2013

SMART Youth Answers: So, Sext Me, Maybe?



 
 
*This blog was written by another youth leader that is not Christina.

Sexting, AKA sexual text messaging, is the act of sending or receiving sexually explicit or implicit text messages or images electronically via wireless device. Think of it as the modern day version of ‘phone sex’ -- except, unlike phone sex, sexting leaves very little to the imagination.


Sexting originated in the early 2000s as phones started to have  cameras and has become a trend among teens curious about sex and sexuality.


  • Talk about both the small (false sense of intimacy, loss of control, possible future issues in jobs/relationships) and large consequences (jail, social isolation, depression, bullying, school suspensions, etc)
  • Sexting includes more than just texts today -- Facetime, Skype, Facebook, etc are all places where "sexting" occurs 
  • Digital technology ensures that all images and words are available forever and are almost impossible to "delete" or destroy -- (ex. Anthony Weiner's twitter pictures of his private parts will always be available.)
  • Not just an issue for teens, but it is the time when we are most curious and susceptible to other people's requests.

The lesson to be learned here is that the images you send wirelessly can be permanent. You should be very careful when sending sexual messages and images because you never know who else will see it.

Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn't mean you should!
Be Smart and Be Safe!
Understand the consequences of your actions.
The choice is yours. 

No comments: