Sexting and Sexcasting Problem - The Reynolds Clinic LLC

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Sexting and Sexcasting Problem

What are Sexting and Sexcasting?

sexting image

Sexting is the sending and receiving of suggestive or explicit words or photos while sexcasting is the sending and receiving of the same kinds of material by video.

How common is receiving a sext among teens?

  • 30 % of 17 year olds report having received explicit photos.
  • 6-8% of 12 year olds report having received explicit photos.

How common is making and sending a sext among teens?

  • 8-10% of teens have made and sent explicit photos.

Why do teens send such pictures and messages?

  • Teens often don’t taking sexting seriously and rarely stop to consider possible long term consequences.

How can they fail to see the potential harm?

The teen brain is not fully developed. The emotional centers of the brain come on line long before the control centers of the brain are fully developed so possible long term consequences of behavior are rarely taken into consideration.

So, practically speaking, what might motivate a teen to make/send a sext?

Although sometimes done to attract another, it’s usually done on impulse, not necessarily sexually driven. Often done on a lark at slumber parties, locker rooms.

Once in cyberspace, photos can be spread like wildfire through a school or a community.

  • Often used as a way to get back at someone, especially after a breakup.
  • can be a form of cyber bullying.

What kind of kid does this kind of thing?

  • More common among kids who pay their own phone bills.
  • More common among kids whose parents don’t monitor cell phone use.

What are possible long-term consequences?

  • Can reduce college and career opportunities
  • Can have serious legal consequences, e.g., sex offender label

What signs should a parent look for?

Don’t wait for signs; if your child has a cell phone he/she should know you’ll be checking it. You should know your child’s passwords.

See our post on childhood depression – click to view.