Safeguarding students is an important priority for ISB and any school. Like many schools, we are seeing concerns surface around students actions on line that place both themselves and others at risk. Online awareness and safety issues are critically important. Sexting and pornography are two areas that are harmful for teens as they are developing.
What is sexting?
Sexting is the sending of sexually explicit messages or images via social media such as snapchat, messenger, skype or email. More often than not this is done via mobile devices. Teens are increasingly engaging in this behavior, although many make choices not to.
The consequences for sexting can have limited but also very serious consequences. Internationally, images of young people below age 18, constitute child pornography. Receiving and sending sexually explicit images of a minor is viewed as a criminal offence, and therefore young people need to be made aware of the serious ramifications.
Another major consequence is that in the digital world, it is impossible to fully control where these images may go. Of concern is that these images can identify young people, and their photos may make their way to illegal websites resulting in potential threats from predators. Often the young person who has shared the image has no idea that their photo has been distributed. This public shaming, can lead to further harassment and increasing distress for the person concerned.
So why do teens engage in sexting?
In some ways it has become the modern day flirting, and for some it is viewed as a way of boosting popularity and social status, however in some cases it is as a result of sexual peer pressure and harassment.
What can parents do?
- Work on the relationship with your child. Keep communication open and direct. The more meaningful your relationship, the more influence you have over social media and peer pressure.
- Talk honestly and openly and frequently about the legal, social and ethical obligations they have in relationships with others.
- Know your child’s friends and activities. Be aware of the peer pressure that may be happening in their relationships.
- Monitor and support them making respectful, responsible choices online.
- If your child is uncomfortable or needs support to discuss any issues connected to this issue. Please encourage them to speak to their counselor.
Jackie, Carmel, and Janel
MS Counselors