Sexting: Sexual Text Messages, Teen Sex and Teen Communication

12-6-2008 National:

What Teens Don't Know About Sexting Can Hurt Them

t did not take long for texting to become "sexting." Of course, when it comes to finding titillation or the provocative in anything and everything, the oversexed and undersexed (there never seems to be a sexually balanced individual) will find a way. As has been done with "sexting," the act of sending sexual messages, songs, and images via texting protocols from one cell phone to another.

And, of course, teens are doing it.

That is, teen are having phone sex. Sex via their cell phones. Sex with a phone and a keypad. Sexting.

Cell phones are ubiquitous modern conveniences. Rarely do you see anyone without one. Even small children have them. Some parents say this is a bow to added security, being able to contact their children, knowing they are safe. More likely, it is a bow to permissiveness and bratification.

But nowhere does one see the cell phone in such constant use and abuse than by teenagers. And the texting phenomenon has caused great concern among parents, sociologists, and lawmakers. Texting while driving has been known to cause accidents. It has been used to cheat on tests. And it is used for sexual flirtations and various stages of sexual pursuit. Thus, sexting.

Sexting = Teen Sex

Certified Sex Therapist Joyce Joseph told CBS News: "On the one hand it can be kind of fun to get an erotic message over your email or on the phone. But on the other hand none of that is really safe or private."

In other words, sexting someone could result in one's private message, picture, song, poem, etc., getting forwarded to other cell phones, saved to personal computers, uploaded onto the internet and onto social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, or any other manner of electronic dissemination. It can become a source of embarrassment and scandal.

But teens generally aren't too worried about that when they are stuck in the moment of having fun, flirting, or setting up a rendezvous. Most are intent on simply having a good time, see it as a fun diversion. Little thought is given to the ramifications of the actions.

Joseph says: "They're experimenting with sex but they aren't integrated in a holistic way that would be better for their self-esteem if they really understood what love was."

Sexting, Text Messages Are Not Necessarily About Love

But teens sexting each other is not necessarily about love. It is about belonging. Sexting is communicating, albeit in a sexual context, and has just as much to do with intimacy and companionship as it does with the thrill of doing something that more than likely is forbidden by their parents. Even when sexting leads to nothing, it still satisfies a gratuitous need, perhaps psychological or physical, within the teen engaged in the activity. The potentially detrimental behavior, unprotected sex and/or behaviors that result in personal damage (the posting of nude photos, text messages, private voice-mails) from sexting, could be a sign of something far worse than boredom and parental neglect or permissiveness.

Joseph does have some good advice for teens, though. "It's really important that parents sit down and talk to their teenagers and help them to develop the emotional and intimacy skills. So that when and if they are ready to be sexual that they are much more balanced."

One can look on the bright side of the equation and allow for the thought that sexting is at least a form of safe sex - as long as it stays in the sexting phase. But, as with most things regarding sex, to leave the topic there would be irresponsible, both on personal and social levels. It is the going further phase of sexting that becomes quite problematic for teens, their families, and society. A complete and universal (or as close as can be arranged) understanding of from where sexting activities derive and where sexting activities can lead should be pursued by parents and teens alike. ..News Source.. by saul relative