Dear girls,
So, sexting. It's not something I ever imagined we'd have to talk about, mainly because it didn't even exist until a few years ago.
We've had plenty of conversations about sex over the years, and now you're both teenagers I never shy away from talking to you about alcohol and using drugs, but this is a new one and although you're probably cringing right now the fact it exists means we need to talk about it.
Children and technology
Child's hands on laptop
91% of UK children live in a household with access to the internet (2012)
62% of children aged 12-15 own a smartphone (2012)
43% of children use the internet in their bedroom (2012)
17.1 hours - the average number of hours 12-15-year-olds spend online each week (2012)
Source: Threat Assessment of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse report (June 2013)
The biggest problem with sexting is the lack of control on your part. Once you send an explicit photo or video to someone, as soon as you press "send" you have handed over control to whoever receives it. Think that's not a problem because he's someone you trust? Maybe now, yes, but what about when you are no longer a couple/friends and he decides to share your photo?
Before long everyone you know (and plenty that you don't) will have seen that image, the one that was meant for one person's eyes only, and there's not a thing you can do about it. Once it's out there in the ether you can kiss goodbye to any control over who sees it. Pretty yucky, eh?
And just in case you're wondering, if you did get caught sexting, of course I'd be disappointed. Not because it would be embarrassing for me, although of course it would be. No, I'd be more upset about your lack of self-respect. Do you respect yourself enough not to be pressured or emotionally blackmailed into something like this? I think you do.
Think about it this way - before you send an intimate message or photo to anyone ask yourself if you would post it on your own Facebook wall. No? Then don't send it to anyone. End of.
Jean
