5 Reasons Why Sexting is Bad for you; 5 social implications of sexting
WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT TEEN SEXTING?
How many times have you heard this word “sexting” and decided to overlook what it entails.
Yet, many children have lost their lives in the process of sending images to someone else and the image getting into a wrong hands
The thought of not being able to get the image back has caused many children especially teenagers to do the unthinkable.
As intentional parents, endeavor to talk to your child about the use of gadgets, whatever form it may be….afterall you bought it for the child, you should have access to it and let them know the positive and negative impact of these gadgets.
Many children send sexual explicit images without thinking of what the consequence will be, some are ignorant while some do it deliberately.
These are some of the discussion about sexting you need to have with the child you handed a gadget to:
Sexting is the act of sending or receiving sexually explicit photos, messages, voicemails, instant messages, videos etc, via phone, computer, webcam and other devices.
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📌Sexting constitutes child pornography, many countries frown at sharing images of minors and the person can be charged with criminal offence, which may in turn have a negative impact on the person. I will also plead to parents that also send videos and images of minors as WhatsApp broadcast on various groups to desist from such act. Whatever your child see you do, thats what the child will imitate.
📌Sexting encourages cyberbulling, you need to let your child know that once a sext is in the cyberspace, your child loses control over the image, people can share, copy and use it to sexually abuse the child. This may have a negative impact or dent on your child’s life and future.
📌Sexting exposes your teen to sexual predators, sexual predators can use the child’s image to sexually exploit a child who hasn’t been taught anything about sexting or sexuality education.
📌It can be used as a means of Blackmail, the recipient of the sexts may use it to threaten or shame the child. Many children often give in to the blackmailer’s demand to avoid being shamed as they are embarrassed to ask anyone for help.
📌Sexts Never Go Away, some of these apps such as Snapchat tend to deceive children that their images will only be viewed by recipients alone not remembering that it could be shared, reposted or screengrabbed. Many lives have been ruined through images getting into the wrong hands.
As intentional parents, endeavor to educate your children (teenagers especially) on the legal, moral and emotional consequence of sexting.
Whatever you send to another person you lose control over. Your digital footprint can make or mar your future.
©Mojisola Sotunde
Parent Coach
Sexuality Educator
