Sexting: The Impacts & Consequences on Young People
Sexting can have long-term negative consequences, not just for the person who sent the message. Teens can be embarrassed or exposed, and the pictures can be redistributed. The consequences of sexting can even lead to cyberbullying. It can also cause the victim to lose trust in their relationships, and may even put them on a sex offender registry. The sexting of images can cause serious physical and emotional repercussions.
Teens and parents are often confused about what constitutes sexting and why it’s so dangerous. There’s more to sexting than just sending naked pictures. The act is considered child pornography by the law, and some teenagers have even faced charges. While it is not always illegal, sexting can put your teen on a sex offender registry and ruin any chance of a healthy romantic and sexual relationship.
What is classified as inappropriate content?
Content that may enter a device that Canopy classifies as inappropriate content, and therefore may constitute as sexting if sent online, includes:
- sexually explicit video
- sexually explicit picture
- sexually explicit photo
- Child sexual abuse materials
- sexual imagery
- sexual photos
- images of sexual nature involving a young person
- images containing nudity
- videos containing nudity
- Minimal clothing
What problems can sexting cause?
Sexting can cause problems in the long run. But with the right guidance, parents can protect their children and prevent them from becoming victims. However, parents must also be careful not to overreact or scare their children into discussing their actions. It is important to educate your child about the dangers of sexting to reduce impulsivity and empower them to stand up to peer pressure. You can also help them by explaining to them the consequences of sexting and the support services that are available to them.
One of the most important ways to talk about sexting is to avoid being judgmental. The best way to do this is to be open and understanding and to listen to what your tween or teen has to say. Young people often have strong reasons not to do certain things, and it can be easy to feel guilty about doing something they didn’t want to do.
Taking sexually explicit photos and sharing them online can lead to criminal charges and may affect your academic or professional life. If you have children, don’t let sexting control their life as it can hurt their future. As a parent, you should make sure you protect your child from sexual abuse.
Related read: The Truth About Sexting
Why is sexting dangerous for children?
First and foremost, sexting can be illegal and for a lot of young people, it can also be psychologically damaging. It can lead to a number of consequences, including sexual addiction and mental health problems. It can also lead to legal consequences, as most children are not aware that sharing these photos online or via texting can be seen as child pornography or Image-based abuse. Children may also feel pressured to send sexual images to others and can be victims of bullying and have a negative impact on their relationships with their peers.
What are some consequences of sexting?
The biggest consequence of sexting is the destruction of a young person’s reputation, which can hinder future opportunities such as college admissions and employment. Once a photo is sent or uploaded online, copies can resurface and be found across the internet for years to come. One lapse in judgment can ruin a person’s life. If you’re a teenager who’s caught receiving sexts, don’t share the photos with anyone.
Sexting can cause serious problems for teens. Not only can it lead to social embarrassment, but it can also lead to bullying and cyberbullying. It can also affect a person’s career choices and can lead to “Sextortion” which is the act of sharing naked pictures with another person to harm them. Sexting imagery can be used as a way of blackmailing and is a more prevalent way of having compromising images of someone that they would not want to be shared.
Many teens feel uncomfortable about sending intimate images but are concerned about how they will be viewed by their peer groups. The consequences of sexting and the impact the trend has are social-based consequences, being bullied or being left out of their peer group, as well as the legal concerns that come with issues such as revenge porn, teen sexting, and illegal images and photos.
How to protect children from sexting?
Canopy automatically scans and analyses photos that are saved on your child’s device. It can sense sexually explicit photos and nude pictures on phones and devices. When sexual images are detected it can prevent your child from viewing the photo or image until it has been approved by an adult.
If you have serious concerns for any children involved in sexting you should contact the esafety commissioner for your locality and try to help the potential victim in being open and communicating about the concerns.
Those looking for tools to help keep their family safe online should check out the Canopy Parental Control App. Canopy will filter and block inappropriate content across all devices, so you never have to worry about your kids seeing explicit content again.
Find out how it works.
