Have You Had the Sext Talk?
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
WomensHealth.gov reports that more than half of college kids surveyed have received sexual images on their phones and 8 out of 10 students admitting to receiving sexual texts. Two thirds of students surveyed have sent sexts to others.
Sexting is the term used for the sending and receiving of sexually explicit text messages.
College age nieces and nephews are often of legal age, but texting sexual images to a minor is considered child pornography and can have heavy legal repercussions. And college age kids are subject to peer pressure and less concerned with privacy as we may have been in college. In fact, 10 percent of those sending sexts have passed on a sext sent to them.
Talk to your nieces and nephews about sexting before they start their year in college. Remind nieces that sending a boyfriend sexual images may not end up for his eyes only and may be shared with his buddies. Remind your nephews that sexting a girl (or another boy) is not the most chivalrous way to go about dating. Finally, if they are going to sext, remind them to make sure whomever they sext is of legal age.
The most serious findings of the survey were that 9 out of 10 students admitted to texting while behind the wheel. This could be deadly - make sure they know that. Do not text and drive!