The Dangers of Sexting?

[Shining Raichu]

There have been a lot of stories lately on the current affairs shows in my local area warning of the dangers of 'sexting'.

I'm sure we all know what sexting is, but just to be completely patronising in case anyone doesn't - it is essentially provocative messaging via cell phone, which can range anywhere from text intended to arouse the recipient to sending nude or semi-nude pictures of oneself.

According to these TV reports, parents are growing increasingly concerned with this phenomenon because they believe that it will fuel teen sexual activity.

To my mind, if teenagers wish to be sexually active, there isn't anything or anyone that's going to stop them - and this was going on long before the advent of cellular technology. I think common sense would dictate that sexting, despite weighing down the phone bill, is actually safer for teens than participating in actual sex.

Now these news stories are skewed toward parents, but most of the people here are in their teens and early twenties, so what are your views? Do you think there is really danger in sexting? Discuss.

 

[インフェルノの津波]

It's internet porn, except it's with people you know!

Joking aside, I think there's a big risk. Let's say you take a picture of your private area, and your receiver decides to be a dick and show it to his/her's friends. Or spread it on the internet, which can potentially ruin your social life.

So, sexting is bad. I'd like to see a reason for why it's good, or acceptable in anyway.

 

[Captain Fabio]

Before I even looked at the thread creator, I knew you would have done this.

Well, my opinion is if people want to do it, good for them, they are only putting themselves at a risk. However, I never have and never will do it; the real thing is better.​

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[Arma]

Well, my opinion is if people want to do it, good for them, they are only putting themselves at a risk. However, I never have and never will do it; the real thing is better.​

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Gotta agree with this.

I think the real thing's a lot safer too, as long as you wear protection. Your social life will be over when you're nude on the web. I mean how how are you ever supposed to get a job when the entire town knows there are nude pics of you all over the place...

 

[Hybrid Trainer]

Before I even looked at the thread creator, I knew you would have done this.​

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Jeeze dude no need to be an ass about it, he was asking your opinion on the topic not himself ¬.¬

And i'd have to disagree, there is pretty much the same chance of sleeping with someone and them filming it or taking pictures. And by what SR said it doesn't always involve sending pictures.

 

[Razer302]

I would never do the pictures or anything but I have done some texting about stuff like that but it was only to my partner.

The real thing is so much better anyway we just did it when we were away, on holidays and stuff.

Not always safer as my 5 day old child will tell you, but love him to bits and worth it now and neither of us mind that we have a kid and we want more lol.

 

[Sydian]

idk why you'd wanna personally. Like others have pointed out, the real thing is better (well, I'm just assuming. I myself haven't had sex, haha) and there's a risk of you and that person having a split and showing off these pictures and telling people what you might have done or said. Actually...a lot of that happened in my high school. My sophomore year, a friend of mine was dating a girl, whose dad was a coach or something, and the girl sent my friend a lot of naughty pictures and such. So when she ended it rudely, he thought she deserved to be tarnished by showing all these pictures and telling everyone about the weird things she did. And...yeah, she did a lot of weird stuff I won't even mention. But her dad did get fired because of all this.

There was another girl who told everyone something she did thinking it'd gain her popularity...I guess? But it backfired and three years later, that's all people know her for. She lies and says "oh that's a rumor" and stuff now, but back then (cause I even remember her telling me about it -shudders-) she was literally telling everyone and she seemed so proud of herself for it too, so she has no excuse. Silly girl. And what's worse? People from OTHER schools know about this. That's how far this spread.

Well, my opinion is if people want to do it, good for them, they are only putting themselves at a risk. However, I never have and never will do it; the real thing is better.

;D

Jeeze dude no need to be an ass about it, he was asking your opinion on the topic not himself ¬.¬

No need to fuel it, though.

 

[Oryx]

It's not safer because of people thinking it's safer.

Doesn't make sense? Think about it, say you're very conservative with your significant other and don't want to have sex yet. Regardless of whether or not you have sexting ability, you're not ready. But because you think "sexting is safer", you're much more likely to take part in that, when normally you wouldn't be doing anything.

That being said, I don't think it's too big of a problem honestly. The worst case scenario is blown up on the news, while the countless harmless times are ignored because that's not a story. For every 1 person who will put your pictures on the internet, there are at least 10 others who would courteously delete them if/when you break up, and even more that may not delete them but wouldn't give them out. You can't numerically weigh the risks, but you can at least judge it a little bit based on the person.

 

[Esper]

It's one of those lessons you learn one way or another: be careful who you get intimate with. Different ways have different consequences and at least you can't get infected or pregnant through sexting. Still, when it comes to sexuality it's best not to do something that means you're giving up control unless you're into that.

 

[Charizard★]

We've had this discussion at school and we had people actually come to my school a talk about it.

Well, my opinion is if people want to do it, good for them, they are only putting themselves at a risk. However, I never have and never will do it; the real thing is better.

Basically how I feel on the matter, I could really care less if other people want to do it, as long as they don't involve me.

 

[Tyranee]

If you're going to do that stuff, treat it like real sex and BE RESPONSIBLE. You should know who you're sexting, what you're sending them, and whether it will get out to other people or not. If even one of those things is missing from your repertoire you're making a big mistake.

 

[Brane]

Before I even looked at the thread creator, I knew you would have done this.

Well, my opinion is if people want to do it, good for them, they are only putting themselves at a risk. However, I never have and never will do it; the real thing is better.​

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Good on you to have noticed that :P

I don't know the extremes people take it to, but I have done it before just as a bit of a joke. It's kind of a flirting thing; but if they're going as far as cybersex then that's just downright weird.

 

[Blue Nocturne]

Someone in my school sent a naked photo of herself to someone who's know to be a bit of a jerk. Within minutes it was on facebook. She's left the school out of embarrassment. I never liked her, but I did feel a little sorry for her. But to be honest she got herself in that mess.

 

[Alice]

Just one of the many stupid things teens do.

Not much you can do but let them grow out of it, and hope they don't get themselves killed/run out of town before that happens. lol

 

[Melody]

Text only. Biggest and best rule of thumb. No pictures, simply because that invites disaster. Seriously, sexting is bad enough if you're not careful enough about who you do it with.

Secondly, if you're going to do it, never do it with anyone who you know to be immature enough to show it off to anyone else. Honestly I think you're much better off meeting up with that person and being intimate with them privately, but in person. There is a time and place for intimacy and we all must learn when it's most appropriate, in the eyes of society and the eyes of your partner. Don't ignore societal standards unless there's an asteroid or missle inbound to destroy earth. That's how I stand on it.

 

[Nihilego]

Lol I was never even aware that something like this was an issue. Really as long as no pictures are sent, what could go wrong? The person you are sexting could show someone else, yes, but they could tell someone else if you said it in conversation. It's no different; sexting is just over a phone. That's all. Unless you're never allowed to talk to anyone in a sexual manner. =/

 

[Hiidoran]

Pretty much agreeing with Razor Leaf.

Pictures and cybersex are one thing, but I never considered sending questionably-provocative messages as sexting. If anything, it's just pushing the levels of flirting. Whether I'm joking or serious sometimes a mixture between the two... my phone has logged a few of 'em in there. Yeah, they could show people if they got angry or upset, but so what? It's not like it's anything horribly incriminating. Besides, if you're doing that, chances are you trust the person pretty well anyway. My friends have got a hold of my phone after I sent something a little... questionable, and all that happened was a little confusion and then a big laugh.

It's not a big deal as long as you're being responsible.

 

[groteske]

Don't send stupid things to people who will probably spread it, and learn to conduct yourself so that someone isn't going to disrespect you enough to do so.

I don't care about "sexting", at all, but when minors participate there's always a risk of legal repercussions if emotional teen A gets upset at little girlfriend and decides to out her, or worse - parents find a picture of someone's penis on their child's phone. Not a good situation.

 

[Esper]

You know, as much as it's everyone's responsibility to be careful, you can't blame someone for a mistake like sending pictures to the wrong person. People can honestly think they're being cautious and only sending things to people they can trust. There's nothing wrong with that. What's wrong is for anyone to take something sent to them in confidence and share it with the school or on the internet. Anyone who does that is 100% in the wrong and not the person who made the mistake.

 

[Alice]

You know, as much as it's everyone's responsibility to be careful, you can't blame someone for a mistake like sending pictures to the wrong person. People can honestly think they're being cautious and only sending things to people they can trust. There's nothing wrong with that. What's wrong is for anyone to take something sent to them in confidence and share it with the school or on the internet. Anyone who does that is 100% in the wrong and not the person who made the mistake.

Yes, but it's so much easier to prevent by not sexting to begin with.

I don't really get the appeal at all though... seems really stupid.