All You Need To Know About Sexting

All you need to know about sexting

Sexting describes sharing and receiving one's sexually explicit messages, videos or photos in the digital space. It can start as a joke or as innocent fun as part of a relationship. However, like any other online activity that involves sensitive data, sending intimate content carries potential risks.

In relationships, shared messages and photos can be misused by upset partners after a breakup. Sexting can also happen between strangers, especially among teenagers, who may do it to impress their friends or fit in with others. Once something is shared, it can never be fully deleted but can be saved, spread, and used for bullying or blackmail, even if it was only sent once.

How to approach sexting as a parent?

1. Stay calm and rational. Instead of focusing on strict rules around phone and social media use, aim to keep open and honest communication with your child. Being too controlling can sometimes lead to secrecy or risky behaviours like sexting as a form of rebellion. Educate your children about the unwanted consequences of sexting and use specific examples to illustrate the situation and risks.
2. Provide them with emotional and psychological support. Fostering open communication is the key to a healthy home environment. If children come to you for advice, reassure them that sharing their story was the best move possible. Provide them with support and acceptance so that they can regain confidence about being online.
3. Set boundaries early on. Are your children confused about what they can share? Make things clear to them. Generally, children should never share any information or content with strangers. They should always take a moment to think about the content they are putting out into the online world, including their private conversations and chats. Educating them when they are young inculcates the importance of being judicious about sharing any content on the internet.

You can read the original article from our DfL partner, ESET: All you need to know about sexting