Here's a trend for you. It's not your average material trend, like a Kindle or an iPhone, or a fashion trend, like the hideous practice of wearing leggings with a short shirt. It's a behavioral trend, called sexting.
Sexting is the popular practice of sending sexually explicit text messages or photos, a growing trend over the past few years. Especially popular among teenagers and young adults, sexting has provided a new outlet for people to express their sexuality while hiding behind the newfound anonymity of screens.
As with most trends, sexting has its pros and cons. Sexting can have very dire consequences, anything from social humiliation to criminal charges.
The social stigma has proven highly destructive. According to an MSNBC article, an Ohio high school student named Jessica Logan made the mistake of sending a naked picture to her boyfriend.
What seemed like an intimate exchange turned into endless consequences.
When Jessica and her boyfriend broke up, he sent the picture to friends, and it ended up on the phones of hundreds of other students in the Cincinnati area. Jessica was labeled with derogatory terms, had things thrown at her and suffered from severe bullying at school. After months of being harassed and taunted by other students, Jessica hanged herself in her bedroom at the age of eighteen.
The legal consequences are high. Sexually explicit photographs of children and young adults under age 18 are considered to be child pornography, which is illegal in the United States and is punishable with up to five years in jail.
Some students in the United States have been jailed and registered as sex offenders, while others have been suspended from schools or sports teams. It is clear that sexting can lead to serious consequences.
On the other hand, many people find that sexting is a fun, fresh twist. An article on www.momlogic.com recommends sexting as a way to revive fading sexuality, like a secret game, a way to connect with your partner on an intimate level throughout the day.
A USA Today article quotes a young man involved in a long-distance relationship who sees sexting as a healthy way to keep the spark alive while he and his girlfriend are apart.
Where is the line? Collegenew.com provides an article called "The Do's and Don'ts of Sexting," which gives a list of things to consider before sending a racy text message or picture via cell phone.
Young adults should know their risks, deciding whether or not they can trust the person receiving the messages. Also, they should not be overeager, and take such an intimate step too quickly.
Some studies have also shown that young adults can get hooked on the rush of breaking taboo, and the article warns against excessive participation in the trend, even with a trusted partner. To quote, "sexy photos and flirty videos are fun and can add spice to a relationship. But sexting demands a certain amount of responsibility and maturity."
Sexting is a new, sometimes fun trend in our technological society, but it has dire consequences. Bottom line: Be smart and be safe.
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