"SEXTING"

What is “sexting”? By definition from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, sexting is the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photos, or images via cell phone, computer, or other digital device. With the ever increasing access to technology, “sexting” is becoming more and more prevalent among teenagers and even adolescent children. 

In October 2008, “Sex and Tech” conducted a survey and polled 1280 teens and young adults between the ages of 13 & 26 about their cell phone, computer, and digital device behaviors/attitudes. The following are the results of the survey;

• The % of teenagers who have sent or posted either a nude or semi-nude picture(s) or video(s) of themselves:

-20% of teenagers overall

-22% of teen girls

-18% of teen boys

-11% of young teen girls ages 13-16

• The % of teenagers sending or posting sexually suggestive messages:

-39% of all teenagers

-37% of teen girls

-40% of teen boys

Even more frightening is that;

• 71% of teen girls and 67% of teen guys who have sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they have sent or posted this content to a boyfriend of girlfriend.
• 44% of both teen girls and boys say it is common for sexually suggestive text messages to get shared with people other than the intended recipient!

It is important to understand that SEXTING IS A CRIME! This includes anything from explicit text messages to nude photos. The Brown Deer Police Department takes this conduct very seriously. The ramifications of sexting are tremendous and hurt everyone involved! Children who become involved in these cases are referred to either Children’s Center or the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office (depending on ages) for charges, of which the charges that are many times considered include child pornography.

Some helpful online resources include:

* Lingo2word.com:   Online searchable shorthand dictionary for words/phrases used in Email, Chart rooms and text messages. (Translates from texting lingo to plain English.)

* NetSmartz411.com: Online resource for answering questions about internet safety, computers and the web.