What is Sexting and what risks it entails

Choose a Girl

Sexting involves the exchange of sexually explicit content, such as messages or photographs, between mobile devices. Interestingly enough, the word was first listed in the dictionary in 2012 – around the time smartphones were gaining popularity among teens. A portmanteau of the words sex and texting, sexting gained popularity as both a cultural phenomenon and a topical study of research interest in the early part of the 21st century. As mobile technologies such as cell phones, computers, and tablets became ubiquitous in the early 2000s, many individuals started to use these technologies to initiate and maintain social relationships.

Risks of Sexting

At Minc Law, we have seen the dangers of sexting time and again and helped clients clean up their digital footprints after sexting went wrong. Before we start to sound overly parental, we should point out that we understand intimate conversations happen. Conversing with potential partners on social media and dating apps has become the new norm.

• In addition to text-based messages, smartphones allow users to easily capture and share explicit photos and videos, further expanding the possibilities of sexting.
• When some time has passed, and both you and your teen have cooled down a little, have a formal conversation.
• While some states have laws that differentiate sexting from child pornography, others do not.
• On the other hand, passive sexting consists of receiving photographs, videos or any other content of a sexual nature.

Safety Advice and Special Considerations

Sexting allows you to explore your imagination and create vivid mental images for your partner. Use descriptive language to convey your desires, fantasies, and intentions. Paint a captivating picture with your words, focusing on sensory details, such as touch, taste, and scent.

Furthermore, possession of such an image is sufficient for prosecution regardless of its origin. Sexting in these instances is a violation of both federal and state child pornography laws. Furthermore possession of such an image is sufficient for prosecution, regardless of the provenance of the image. One of the worst-case scenarios is when teenagers sext sexually explicit pictures of themselves and are subsequently accused of distributing child pornography. One thing to realize, however, is that sexting has become very common among teenagers in today’s generation.

Share intimate photos, videos, or voice recordings if both parties are comfortable with this level of engagement. However, exercise caution and ensure the content remains intact, respectful, and never compromising or non consensual. If you’ve gotten an unwanted sext or a nude photo, you have options.

• In this conversation, talk to your teen about what led them to engage in such actions.
• Before the conversation heads the boring alley, mix it up with fun elements such as naughty texts, dirty talk, etc., to avoid boredom and dullness.
• According to Amy Hasinoff, if sexting was viewed as media production and a consensual activity, this would change the legal assumption that sexting is always non-consensual and reduce the culpability of victimized youth.
• She said that it feels like at least 95% of the males at her school have within the last two months and nearly as many females.
• I  had  visited backpage.com a  few  times,  but  I  had  never  solicited  a  prostitute  or  agreed  to  commit  the  crime  of  prostitution.

People “sext” to express their sexual desires, turn-ons and turns-offs, sexual fantasies, or just to have fun. For example, some people might send you sexual photos or videos without getting your consent (permission) first – this is not okay! If you receive sexts that make you feel uncomfortable, it’s your right to block them. Employers and colleges often look at candidates’ social media profiles and online presence. Having nude images or photos of alcohol or drug use could hinder your ability to get a job or into college one day. If you have a phone issued to you from your work then you might want to consider having a separate phone for sexting, unless you’re cool with Phyllis from IT reading your lovely smut.

Problem-solve together on what should be done now and how to prevent a recurrence. Remind them that once the digital images are out there, they leave a digital footprint. You can’t “take it back.” Deleting a post or message is no safeguard against it having already been received, copied, and shared with others. For some, a nude photo of another teen is a trophy that a teen can use to brag to peers about the relationship. Teens might send a photo of themselves as a way of flirting with a potential partner or to get compliments from peers.