Why Teens Sext

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3-23-2009 National:

Did you see "The Tyra Banks Show" on Friday? The episode was all about teen sexting, and the few snippets I've been able to find are enough to make many parents cringe.

On Jezebel.com, a video clip shows audience members reading some of the sexual messages that the girls on the show had sent. The women can barely read the messages and many of the words are bleeped out because they are unsuitable for network television.

In the preview snippet of the show, five girls are on stage. Fourteen-year-old Keaton explains her reasons for participating in sexting: "Guys don't talk to you unless you do this. Like I know there are some percent of girls who are extremely gorgeous and they just happen to talk to them, but, I mean, you have to have a little more something."

Not surprising, much of the viewer reaction following the show on the Tyra Web site, talked about how the low self esteem of the girls on the show doesn't pertain to most teenage girls. And some sexters chimed in supporting the practice. Just "listen" to Angie:

"I myself am a teen that has sent sexually suggestive texts & pics of myself to boys and I do regret it. But I am not like the girls on your show. Not all of us who have texted have low self-esteem. I am very confident about my body & I actually think very highly of myself. I think the reason I sent those things were because I feel centuries behind my friends. I'm 15 years old, a freshman in high school & I've only had 2 boyfriends before. I haven't even kissed a boy yet. Most of my friends have boyfriends & have had their first kiss in middle school. I feel like they are moving on & maturing without me. Also I think this is partly the guys fault. Yes, I am the one who sent the pics but some guys just know how to get it out of you. The guy I sent pics to has his ways of manipulation. He is really sweet and charming & like a dream guy. I felt really close to him & could tell him anything. I felt very comfortable sharing my feelings with him. Then, after I sent him the pics, he started to get bored & he moved on. The worst part is that this exact situation has happened before with him & many others girls. Most of which are close friends of mine. One last thing, I dont think adults fully understand this whole thing. My own mom said that she understands, but I can always hear the disappointment in her voice. Just because we have done this does not make us sluts and whores. We are all great girls who made mistakes. And the adults always say that we don't need a guy in our lives"

In addition, the Tyra show showed teen boys and girls talking more about sexting after the show, with one girl explaining that most of the time sexting is a joke, a funny way to "talk about sex or how far we can get a guy to go." The boys, though, saw the images as "slutty," particularly when one girl's image passes from friend to friend, as though the girl "wants anyone."

Missing from much of this discussion was the potential legal ramifications of sexting. But they are being felt in many places. "Police have investigated more than two dozen teens in at least six states this year for sending nude images of themselves in cell phone text messages, which can bring a charge of distributing child pornography. Authorities typically are notified by parents or schools," wrote USA Today earlier this month.

"Since this is a brand new concept, it is one that the laws across the country are trying to figure out what to do," said K. Dane Snowden, the vice president of external and state affairs of CTIA, The Wireless Association. "There are a lot of inconsistencies. ... The legal issues depends on the jurisdiction. Every single one is doing it differently. In some instances, the sheriff or attorney general or prosecutor may say it’s child porn [and prosecute]. Others say it’s not." CTIA has been following this issue for a couple of years, Snowden said. In addition, Snowden said that some jurisdictions are saying parents are responsible for the content on their children's phones and some aren't.

What is your impression of teens who sext? Have your teens admitted to sending or receiving sext messages. Do you feel teens should be prosecuted for sexting? ..News Source.. by Voices Washington Post