Sexting - a growing trend

Lauren Thiery
To You Editor, Fused

Recently, all across the United States, there has been a dramatic increase in what the media has dubbed “sexting.”

Sexting is when young adults, typically teenagers, send posed nude photographs of themselves and sexually suggestive texts to other people. The term is called “sexting” as a play on words of “texting” -- except instead of merely texting, these teenagers are essentially selling themselves.

The problem of sexting has been featured all across the media, including “Dr. Phil” episodes and on MSNBC. In a “Dr. Phil” episode, a 16-year-old girl was sexting with older men (mid to late twenties). She had met these men online, given them her cell phone number and texted nude photographs of herself to them. She then gave them her personal information, had them come to her house and engaged in sexual intercourse with them. The girl also adamantly defended her actions by claiming that sexting is “normal” behavior because all her friends were also doing it. This specific case is just one among many.

Although teens may think that just sending one “sext” is harmless, whether it is sent to their friends or people they’ve met online, they fail to realize the extent of exposure that they’re subjecting themselves to. Texts of nude photographs typically get forwarded from friend to friend, and sooner or later, their entire social circle has viewed their inappropriate photographs.

Psychologists say that teens who engage in this type of behavior do so because they lack self-esteem and self-confidence. They are young and impressionable, often easily convinced to engage in this self-degrading sexting.

According to “Dr. Phil,” statistics show that 50 percent of teens have sent sexually suggestive text messages at least once in their lifetime. 30 percent of teens have sent nude photographs of themselves via texts.

Though it is true that young teens are vulnerable and easily influenced by adults who “take interest in them,” the root of the problem is the adults who prey on them, like tigers who hunt antelope in the wild. Though everyone, adults and children alike, has the right to freedom of speech, this right should not be license to victimize children in inappropriate and vulgar ways.

Adults should realize the limit that their freedom of speech has, especially when exercising this “right” corrupts and exposes minors. They should have the common sense, decency and nobility to understand the social limitations of freedom of speech. In this way, there will be fewer corrupting tigers and more innocent antelope in the jungle of society.