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May 14, 2009 - By Charlie Shi
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Sexting is a newly invented term created from the combination of “sex†and “texting.†Basically, sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit photos or messages electronically, usually through cell phones. It has recently become a significant issue in the eyes of many people.
Sexting was first reported in 2005 and has since been described as being on the rise worldwide. In January, a survey conducted with 1,200 teenagers concluded that about 20% had sent explicit pictures of themselves using cell phones, a figure parents have described as shocking.
The most recent major case of sexting occurred January in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Child pornography charges were brought against six high school students after three girls sent sexually explicit photos to three of their male classmates. There has been a number of other legal cases in the past few years regarding the child pornography issue.
Like many inappropriate teenage activities such as drinking, sex and drug use, sexting is one of those “do at your own risk†activities. It may be good that the public denounces sexting and the law punishes it in many cases but ultimately to “sext†or not is the choice of the individual. Public condemnation and legal restraints have never proven too effective with this sort of thing.
Sexting is essentially like posting your personal information on MySpace or Facebook. You don’t expect it to be abused but it’s there for anyone to manipulate. Although “sexters†probably expect the receivers to keep messages private, in actuality the information crosses into the public domain the second it digitally leaves their cell phones.
The danger of this is shown in another recent case in which an 18-year-old girl in Cincinnati committed suicide after the naked picture of herself she sexted was forwarded to nearly everyone in her high school. In a sense it’s just like telling a secret or starting a rumor; it is likely to spread beyond control. The bottom line is that it’s up to you to decide whether you want to risk breaking the law and sullying your own reputation in order to indulge in a moment of "fun."
On a different note, the sexting phenomenon is not quite as shocking as many would claim. One in five people is a significant number but not an outrageous or unreasonable one. Consider that nearly half of all people from ages 15 to 19 have had sexual intercourse, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Is it so surprising that a fifth of all teenagers would choose to engage in a less direct method of sexual activity?
Sexting is the product of teenagers’ ever-present sexuality as it meets the wonders of the technological age. While it can be a criminal offense and very risky, sexting shouldn’t come as a huge shock. It is simply the current generation’s way of adapting to new possibilities. Whether or not you do it is your choice but, like all things, bear in mind the consequences.
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