National studies show 20 percent of teens have been involved in "sexting."
WILBRAHAM – Parents and teens were warned about the dangers of “sexting” at a Thursday night forum at Minnechaug Regional High School.
Sgt. Karen Pitts of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department said sexting is the sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images or videos via a cell phone. She said four national studies have shown that 20 percent of teens ages 13 to 19 say they have either sent or received a sexually suggestive photo or video of themselves or someone else.
With three of four teens having their own cell phones, which allows them to stay in contact with parents and friends, sending and receiving text messages, including pictures, has become extremely popular, Pitts said.
She said a girl may agree to send a nude photograph of herself to her boyfriend because of pressure from her boyfriend. After the relationship sours, the boy may then forward the photograph to a group of friends who may forward it to another group of friends. By the time the photograph has circulated through a high school the girl may be repeatedly harassed and called names.
“Think before you post,” Pitts told the teens in attendance. She said it is impossible to remove a photograph from the Internet.
Pitts told the story of a popular teen who ended up committing suicide after a nude photograph of herself was circulated through her school via other students’ cell phones.
Pitts said disseminating nude photographs of children under age 18 is child pornography. Teens may not realize that such crimes are felonies and are punishable by heavy fines and jail terms. Those convicted are listed as sex offenders, which may restrict their access to higher education and jobs, she said.
“Teens are sometimes unable to recognize the long-term consequences of their actions,” Pitts said.
Parents should discuss such issues with their teens.
Sexting is an issue for children as young as sixth grade, Minnechaug Regional High School School Resource Officer Daniel Menard said.
Besides sexting, Menard said teens need to remember that there are new harassment laws which they can be prosecuted for.