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Sexting... Is It Worth It?
“Sexting” is when teens take sexual or nude pictures of themselves and then send the pictures to others. Sometimes they only send the pictures to their boyfriends, but other times they send them to lots of boys or even to girlfriends, just for fun. They may take them at a slumber party, after drinking, or to prove that they “love” their boyfriend.
But “sexting” has serious consequences. Sending nude or sexual pictures can land a teen in jail and force her or him to register as a sex offender. In one case, described here, the consequences surrounding a sexting incident ended in a young woman taking her own life.
Jessica was a smart, pretty, and funny 18-year-old who sent nude pics to her boyfriend. When they broke up, he shared them with a 16-year-old girl from another school who sent them to anyone and everyone she could. Suddenly, Jessica found herself targeted by cyberbullies and was dubbed “porn girl” at school. Although she sought help from school authorities and her mother and even gave an anonymous television interview to warn others not to do what she did, Jessica couldn’t live down the humiliation and harassment. A few months later she committed suicide.
Don’t put yourself at risk the way Jessica did. The second you hit the send button you’re putting a very private matter into a very public arena. You never know who will see your pics and where they will send them.
Check out five things you should consider before sending a sexy pic.
Speak up! Is sexting worth it to you? Post a comment below…