It’s called “Sexting”. Essentially, sexting is sending nude or hypersexual images via cell phones in the form of text messages.
A few days ago, a grieving mother shared her heart-wrenching story. Her beautiful teen daughter took her own life after sexually explicit photographs (sent to her boyfriend) were circulated throughout her high school.
I watched the segment, shook my head and finished my make up. But throughout the day, the story "stuck" with me.
It is no secret that young people tend to behave spontaneously with little regard for consequences. Some scientific sources attribute the youthful recklessness to the underdevelopment of the prefrontal cortex. This region of the brain helps us consider and weigh the consequences of our actions. Some say it is not fully developed until the early twenties.
Whatever the reason youth engage in this potentially dangerous exchange, it must stop. I spoke to my seventeen year old son about it and warned him of the potential hazards of engaging in such behavior. I tried, as desperately as I could, to “park” my parental judgments and clearly explain how harmful it could be to send or accept such pictures. I went so far as to say: "Don't allow anyone you care about to send these types of photos." He agreed, but I hope he really heard me.
Sending nude or explicit photos can potentially threaten our kid's career ambitions, social standing and the personal self-image. Or worse, it could create a hostile, toxic social environment as it did for Jesse Logan-the teen girl that committed suicide as a result of the taunting from her school-mates.
This “sexting” thing is a new “issue” for most of us. So, I give big kudos, hugs and thanks to Mrs. Logan for sharing her pain with the nation and, in turn, empowering us to warn our children about this new “secret” in youth culture. I had a conversation with mine, I hope other parents do the same.
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