Teens and Sexting

1. Teens and Sexting Presented by K. Timmons July 21, 2011

2. What is “Sexting”? • Considered to be the act of sending sexually explicit messages and/or nude or semi-nude photos electronically • Most common forms of distribution: • Text messages • E-mail • Facebook • My Space

3. Teen Sexting Craze • First popularized around 2005 • Is portmanteau of sex and texting • Most popular among teens/ya age 13-25. • Greatest concerns are for juveniles under the age of 17 whose judgement conflicts with technology skills- basically kids do not think before they act--- and it can lead to irreversible consequences.

4. The Facts (2009) • 75% of teens (12-17) has a cell phone • 58% of 12 year-olds own a cell phone. • 75% of teens and 71% of young adults say sending sexually suggestive content “can have serious negative consequences.” • Yet, 39% of teens and 59% of young adults have sent or posted sexually suggestive emails or text messages— and 20% of teens and 33% of young adults have sent/posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves. Pew Internet & American Life Project & The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

5. Carrie Prejean Former Miss California was caught sending nude photos to her boyfriend. When these leaked Donald Trump terminated her Miss California contract. Tiger Woods Jamie Grubbs, one of Tiger’s many mistresses, released many of their private text messages to the media. That was later topped when a porn star released her graphic Tiger texts. Vanessa Hudgens had nude photos of her leak twice. They were reportedly sent to her ex-boyfriend Drake Bell. Sexting Celebrities Most recently, senator Anthony Weiner… And the list goes on… Scotty Lago, the Olympic halfpiper who won the bronze medal, got in trouble over a camera phone photo. While out celebrating his win, friends snapped pics of him with a drunk fan. At one point, he put his medal around his waist, so it hung over his crotch, and had the girl kiss it. A few forwards later, Scotty got a call from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Miley CyrusA hacker called “Digital Monster” got into Miley’s cell phone memory and recovered tons of sexy photos that she had sent to ex-boyfriend Nick Jonas. Brett Favrewas caught sending naughty texts and photos of his penis to Jenn Sterger, a jets sideline reporter who rejected him.

6. How Does it Start? • Texting relationships often begin on social networks or gaming sites • Eventually, phone numbers are exchanged resulting in texting and sharing pictures • The pressure to ‘fit in’ leads to sexting- but sometimes teens begin by sexting in hopes that a relationship will begin. • What starts as innocent communication can turn into spiteful revenge when kids take on adult behaviors and cannot handle the emotional consequences.

7. Why Do Children Sext? • They want to feel sexy and mature. • To be fun or flirtatious. • A joke • They feel pressured. • Everyone else is doing it. • A “sexy” present for their boyfriend/girlfriend • In response to such content they have received. • They believe taking and sharing a provocative photo of themselves is a natural progression point in a romantic relationship. • Exploration: “You show me yours, I’ll show you mine” • It’s a safer alternative to actually having sex.

8. Why Teens Sext? • About 38% of teens say exchanging sexually suggestive content makes dating or hooking up with others easier. • About 29% of teens believe those exchanging sexually suggestive content are “expected” to date or hook up. • About 22% of teens say they are more forward and aggressive using sexually suggestive words and images than they are in “real life”

9. Federal and State Laws • Federal law makes it illegal when images of anyone 18 years or younger are created, posted, sent, shared, or viewed • State laws would depend on the content of the photos transmitted and the ages of the people involved.

10. Outdated Laws • State and local laws generally have no current provisions to deal specifically with "sexting," so it is viewed as child pornography… even if you took the picture • Sending naked pictures by cell phone can include jail time (up to 8 years), felony charges, and having to register as a sex offender for as long as 25 years.

11. Legal Consequences • Potential jail sentence and/or fine imposed by a Judge • May require registration with the Sex Offender Registration Board for the next 20+ years.   • Forfeiture and destruction of the computer or digital devices used.  • a “felony conviction,” can trigger a restriction of school activities, such as sports, denial of college admission, and denial of student loan eligibility.  • A felony conviction mandates that a DNA sample be provided to the state.  • A felony conviction may also affect future employment opportunities, such as those offered in law enforcement and other high-security clearance positions.

12. Breaking the Law • Posing a Child in a State of Nudity or Sexual Conduct • In many circumstances, encouraging a person, even a friend, who is under 18 to take a photo of themselves nude, or of body parts considered sexual in nature, with their cell phone or digital camera, violates this statute. • Dissemination of Pictures of a Child in a State of Nudity or Sexual Conduct • For example, a sixteen year old who photographs him or herself nude, and sends it to their boyfriend or girlfriend, violates this statute.   A person who receives such a picture attached to an email, for example, and who knowingly forwards it to another person, may also be in violation of this law. • Possession of Child Pornography • Having lewd photographs of another person’s exposed genitals, for example, whether it be a friend or stranger, who is under 18, on your cell phone or home computer, violates this statute.  Knowingly possessing it, even without sending it on to another person, is illegal. • Dissemination of Harmful Matter to a Minor • Thus when an 18 year old photographs his or her genitals, for example, and sends it to their 17 year old girlfriend or boyfriend, they are in violation of this statute

13. Existing Lawd Potentially Applicable to "Sexting"

14. Sexting all Over the News • Athinline sexting-in-america • Today show • CBSnews

15. Sexting Court Cases • In 2007, 32 Australian teenagers from the state of Victoria were prosecuted as a result of sexting activity. • Child pornography charges were brought against six teenagers in Greensburg, PA in January 2009 after three girls sent sexually explicit photographs to three male classmates. • In Fort Wayne, Indiana, a teenage boy was indicted on felony obscenity charges for allegedly sending a photo of his genitals to several female classmates. • Police investigated an incident at Margaretta High School in Castalia, Ohio, in which a 17-year-old girl allegedly sent nude pictures of herself to her former boyfriend, and the pictures started circulating around the high school after the two got into a fight. The girl was charged with being an "unruly child" based on her juvenile status. • Two southwest Ohio teenagers were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a first-degree misdemeanor, for sending or possessing nude photos on their cell phones of two 15-year-old classmates. • In October 2008, a Texas eighth-grader spent the night in a juvenile detention center after his football coach found a nude picture on his cell phone that a fellow student sent him.

16. Ohio Sexting Law • Ohio recognizes the disconnect betweeen current law and the power of technology. • Lawmakers are working toward reducing “sexting" from a felony charge to a first degree misdemeanor, and eliminate the possibility of a teenage offender being labeled a sex offender for years. • Under the new law, offending minors will be labeled as "unruly children" after a first offense, meaning they would have to go to juvenile court. That court can create a punishment for offending minors but cannot jail them

17. House Bill 743 • The Ohio House, by an 86-12 vote, passed legislation Wednesday May 25, 2010 to prohibit minors from using a telecommunications device to send, post, forward, receive or possess photographs, video or other material that shows them or another minor in a state of nudity. The ban on the practice known as sexting must still be approved by the Senate before becoming law. • HB 743 is also meant to educate teens about the dangers of sending and receiving lewd and sexually oriented pictures with their cell phones.

18. Other Consequences of Sexting • Pictures may be distributed all over the Internet. • Limit a person’s ability to get into college, join the military, or get a job for the rest of his or her life. • Short, medium, and long-term effects: anxiety, depression, self-harm, and even suicidal ideation.

19. When the line is crossed… • 71% of teen girls and 67% of teen guys who have sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they have sent/posted this content to a boyfriend/girlfriend. AFTER THE BREAKUP: Emotionally charged teens send your private sexts to their entire phonebook…

20. When sexting leads to cyberbullying • Sycamore High School student (Cincinnati, OH) hanged herself after nude pictures she took on her cell phone (for her ex) were disseminated without her permission. Age 18, 2008 Jesse Logan

21. Teens cannot handle emotional consequences of sexting • Florida girl sent a topless photo of herself to a boy in hope of gaining his attention. Instead, she got the attention of her school, as well as the high school nearby. Age 13, 2009 Hope Witsell

22. Sexting in Schools • Parents want teachers to end bullying -- anti-bullying programs are in place… • But if an instance occurs and a teacher gets involved, they are the first to be blamed either for not doing enough or for posession/viewing sext. • If it didn’t start on school grounds… • NO administrator wants to touch this topic because it could put them in a legally compromising position

23. Teachers • Maintain open lines of communication with parents and teens. • If you suspect sexting or cyberbullying, report it to administration and parents. • Do not look at images, or show anyone else. • Educate students about dangers of sexting and cyber safety.

24. School involvement? • “Administrators and educators should never forward, copy, transmit, download, place on usb thumb drive, or show any non-law enforcement personnel any evidence collected from a personal digital device, cell phone and/or computer after the initial discovery of sexual content, or at any other time during the investigation.” Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2010). Sexting: A brief guide for educators and parents. Cyberbullying Research Center (www.cyberbullying.us).

25. Administrators • In 2008, a Virginia assistant principal was charged with possession of child pornography and related crimes after he had been asked to investigate a rumored sexting incident at the high school where he worked. Upon finding a student in possession of a photo on his phone that depicted the torso of a girl wearing only underpants, her arms mostly covering her breasts, the assistant principal showed the image to the principal who instructed him to preserve the photo on his computer as evidence, which he did. • The court later ruled that the photo did not constitute child pornography because under Virginia law, nudity alone is not enough to qualify an image as child pornography; the image must be "sexually explicit". Loudoun County Prosecutor James Plowman stands by his initial assessment of the photo and says he would not have pursued the case if the assistant principal had agreed to resign. Instead, the assistant principal got a second mortgage on his house and spent $150,000 in attorneys' fees to clear his name.

26. School Consequences... • Sexting could potentially result in suspension or expulsion within the school. • Persons who engage in “sexting” may feel humiliation and emotional distress as a result of the ease and speed at which these images and information can be passed along. • Future employment opportunities may be negatively affected as a result of “sexting” or sexually explicit postings.

27. WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

28. EDUCATION • Parents need to educate themselves on how much they really know about sexting. • Parents need to educate their children on the dangers of sending impulsive texts. • Cell phone etiquette and safety begin at home... Before you even give them their first cell phone. Only 5% of parents think their child has sexted!

29. How many acronyms do you know? ROTFLMAOWPMP EMFBI HUB BIOYIOP 404 FUBAR TTT KISS IANAL WAG IGP L8R G8R ::POOF:: SNAFU

30. P911 MOS KPC GNOC DUSL 8 143 Banana Code 9 PIR TDTM WYCM NIFOC Parent Alert Mom Over Shoulder Keeping Parents Clueless Get Naked on Cam Do You Scream Loud? Oral Sex I Love You Penis Parents Are Around Parent in Room Talk Dirty to Me Will You Call Me? Nude in Front of the Computer Sexting Acronyms – do you know what kids are texting about? 68% of teens would rather have their phone conversations monitored than their texts. Did You Know?

31. RU/18 RUH MOOS Kitty MorF SorG S2R Q2C LMIRL A/S/L IWSN 1174 DUM GYPO Are You Over 18? Are You Horny? Member of the Opposite Sex Vagina Male or Female Straight or Gay Send to Receive Quick to Cum Let’s Meet in Real Life Age/Sex/Location I Want Sex Now Nude Club Do You Masturbate? Get Your Pants Off Sexting Acronyms –very concerning Over 80% of teens text 1) in the middle of the night, 2) while having a conversation with someone else, 3) at the dinner table and 4) while driving. Did You Know?

33. Tips for Parents • Establish ground rules for technology and cell phone use. • Regularly review your child’s phone for inappropriate content. If you don’t ask, they won’t tell you. • If your children have sent any nude pictures of themselves, make sure they stop immediately. • If they’ve received a nude photo, make sure they haven’t sent it to anyone else. • Talk to your teens. Stay calm, be supportive and learn as much as you can about the situation. (impulsive behavior, a teen “romance”, or harassment). • Consider talking with other teens and parents involved. • If malice or criminal intent is involved, you may want to consult a lawyer, the police, or other experts on the law in your jurisdiction, but be aware of the possibility that child-pornography charges could be filed against anyone involved.

34. If a Teen Receives a Sext… • Say No to Sexting! Don’t give in to cyber pressure. • DO NOT forward any sexts you do receive whether you requested them or not (that could be considered distribution of child pornography). • Delete all sexts before showing anyone. • Talk to a parent or trusted adult but do not show them the sext. • Tell your friends sexting is against the law and they should stop. * If the photos keep coming, you and a parent might have to speak with your friend’s parents, school authorities or the police.

35. The Five P’s • Don’t sext what you wouldn’t say… • Before you Send, consider the Five P’s… • Parents • Principal • Predator • Police • Potential boss, college recruiter, coach If you don’t want these people to see it, don’t send or post it publicly.

36. Remember: • Once a digital image leaves your device, you can never get it back... • You never know how far it will travel… or when it will re-appear... • You just gave someone else the power to destroy your reputation.

37. Just for Fun… thatsnotcool.com • What would you do? Video Where do you draw your digital line? • NudeECalls Game Do you practice safe texts? To send or not to send, that is the question…

38. Websites of Interest • LG-Text-Ed-Class-Manual-lessons-1-through-5 • www.Connectsafely.org • www.cyberbullying.us • www.Netsmartz411.org • www.thatsnotcool.com • www.webwisekids.org

39. References Allen, E. (2011.) AASA: “Sexting”: A New Challenge for Educators and Families. American Association of School Administrators. Retrieved June 28, 2011, from http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=7672 Boucek, S. G. (2009.). AASA :Volume 7, number 66: Dealing With the Nightmare of ‘Sexting’. American Association of School Administrators. Retrieved June 28, 2011, from http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=4386 Craig, Jon. "Sexting bill passed Ohio House." cincinnati.com. news.cincinnati.com, 26 May 2010. Web. 15 July 2011. <news.cincinnati.com/article/20100526/NEWS0108/5270373/Sexting-bill-passes-Ohio-House>. Crespi, N. K. (2000.). NASP Communique - Sexting in the Schoolyard. National Association of School Psychologists. Retrieved June 25, 2011, from http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/39/8/sexting-in-the-schoolyard.aspx Donlin, M. (2011, October 11). The Teen Sexting Problem and What Schools Can Do about It — Inside the School. Teaching strategies and tips for secondary educators — Inside the School. Retrieved June 28, 2011, from http://www.insidetheschool.com/articles/the-teen-sexting-problem-and-what-schools-can-do-about-it/ Hinduja, S and Patchin, J. W. (2011, February 22). You Received a “Sext,” Now What? Advice for Teens | Cyberbullying Research Center Blog. Cyberbullying Research Center - cyber bullying examples, cases, laws, articles, stories, presentations, videos, facts, statistics. Retrieved June 25, 2011, from http://cyberbullying.us/blog/you-received-a-sext-now-what-advice-for-teens.html Kranz, C. (2009, March 22). Nude photo led to suicide. cincinnati.com. Retrieved June 26, 2011, from news.cincinnati.com/article/20090322/NEWS01/903220312/Nude-photo-led-suicide

40. References Lenhart, A., Ling, R., Campbell, S., & Purcell, K. (2010, April 10). Teens and mobile phones. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved June 25, 2011, from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx LG Text Ed Class Manual, lessons 1 through 5. (n.d.). Scribd. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/45811728/LG-Text-Ed-Class-Manual-lessons-1-through-5 Photos: Celebrities Caught Sexting. (n.d.). CBS Radio. Retrieved July 15, 2011, from 997now.radio.com/2011/06/07/photos-celebrities-caught-sexting/#photo-1 Sex and Tech | The National Campaign. (n.d.). The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech/ Trim, D. (2010, February 8). What Should Teachers Do about Sexting? — Inside the School. Teaching strategies and tips for secondary educators — Inside the School. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.insidetheschool.com/articles/what-should-teachers-do-about-sexting/ Willard, N. (2010.May 22.). CSRIU: Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. CSRIU: Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. Retrieved June 28, 2011, from http://csriu.org Images are from Microsoft Clip Art

41. ::POOF::