Teen Sexting Contributes To Further Sexual Activities
Sexting is, unfortunately, a common thing among teenagers. Research shows that over 27% of teens have sent and or received a nude photo.
Sexting is an activity that teens often don’t recognize the risks involved with it. It is said to be a gateway to future sexual activities. People that engage in sexting are 32% more likely to have sex soon after.
More often than not, sexting is started by peer pressure. Investigators say that peer pressure is one of the biggest causes of teens sending nude photos.
There are many legal consequences that come along with sexting that many teens don’t take into consideration before sending out pictures. Some legal issues that could come up are fines that can easily exceed $5,000, charges of possession of child pornography, and all felony convictions can get a sentence of at least a year in prison.
People that are not against teen sexting, say that sexting in a relationship can make the trust and relationship grow stronger, but it is actually one of the leading causes of a break up among teens. For reasons such as the other person not wanting to send a nude photo, or one of the people in the relationship show or share the picture with friends and other people.
It is said to be a gateway to future sexual activities. People that engage in sexting are 32% more likely to have sex soon after.
— Jayden Murray, junior
One solution to the problem of teen sexting could be to shut it down before it goes too far, or to block the person if you’re being pressured into it. If you are in a relationship with the person, tell them that sexting is not something that you are comfortable with and are not going to participate. Sexting is a dangerous thing among teens and it is more common than we know. The safest thing to do is to stay away from sexting.
Jayden Murray is a junior, and this is her first year in Journalism. She decided to take Journalism so she could be on the yearbook staff next year.
Other...
Aidan Gilbert • Jan 14, 2020 at 9:17 pm
Hi Jayden!
Counter Argument: I believe that sexting can further yet develop a relationship. It builds that trust and character that one needs for a steady and healthy relationship.
My Argument: I definitely agree that sexting is not the most flattering way of committing to a relationship. Building a relationship relies on face to face conversations and trust you can only gain by real life interaction.
Kimry Loehe • Jan 14, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Jayden,
I agree that sexting and sending nude photos leads to sexual activity. The boys usually initiate the sexting and normally have more courage to ask to do physical things. I also feel like that is the point of sexting and sending naked pictures. People use it to build trust in relationships but in reality they are just being taken advantage of. They don’t think that what they’re sending is a big deal until the whole school has seen what they sent. Sexting is something that can ruin your whole life and follow you throughout life.
Lizzy Hollabaugh • Jan 12, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Counter Argument: I feel as though many teenagers do this because they are not getting enough attention from anything or anyone else so they resort to sending pictures they shouldn’t.
My argument: I think that some teens do this for the experience because they are just discovering who they are and what they like even though this definitely is not the way. How this world is today I also feel like has a very big impact on how sexting has become bigger and bigger.
niki borron • Jan 9, 2020 at 4:45 pm
I agree with you that sexting is not okay for younger people. Although some people do argue that it can build trust in a relationship, it can also break the trust. Once you send someone those pictures, you don’t know where they could end up. If someone is pressuring a person to send a nude photo against their will, that is a toxic relationship. In a good relationship, if one person is not comfortable with something, the other person has to be understanding and be okay with it. If not, that means that the person doesn’t care about you and is just using you. As teenagers, we are too young to keep a good relationship, and sending nude photos would be the worst idea.
Corbin Campbell • Jan 9, 2020 at 3:53 pm
Dear Jayden,
I believe sexting is not a very healthy thing, especially sending nude photos of yourself. Everything you say or any picture you take is on the internet forever and it will never go away. No matter what, I do not agree with sending nude photos but it is a 100% normal thing for teens to flirt especially in a relationship. I believe what they say and talk about is their business and theirs only. What they choose to talk into depth about is their choice. It would maybe be smarter to talk about all that stuff in person but what they do is what they do. To a certain extent flirting has never been illegal but other things such as nude photos is a big no to parents, guardians, and especially law enforcement.
Miles Bertolo • Jan 9, 2020 at 2:39 pm
I don’t completely disagree with you but on the other hand it can build trust and companionship and even if you try to stop them they are going to keep doing it so what I say is let them do what they want to do they will earn the consequences when they get caught they will learn not to do that again.
Alannah Comerford • Jan 9, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Hello there Jayden. It’s your good friend Alannah. While I do not exactly disagree with your article, I do have one concern and a sort-of solution. While teenagers today are partaking in way too many activities that are much beyond their maturity level, the solution is easy. It all falls back on the parents. Once kids exceed the age of supervision, they can pretty much do what they want anyway. But from the age of about 13 until they become an adult, parents should regularly monitor their children’s social media and texting activity. I find that when parents take a bigger part in their kid’s social lives, many dangerous and immature things are easily prevented. On the other hand, parents who have no concern over what their children are doing on the internet, bad things are going to happen. The problem with society today is mostly the parents. Somehow, with time, parents and guardians have gotten lazy. Instead of teaching children right and wrong, they simply release them to their own will and let them learn the hard way. However, I will say that sometimes the kids get lucky, just like I did. I got lucky enough to have parents who care, and teach me the consequences of my actions before I make them.
My argument is that the fault usually lands on the actions of the parents, who are not taking the necessary steps in ensuring their child’s safety and well being. While teenagers are usually smart enough to know right from wrong, not knowing the true consequences of their actions can lead to poor choices. Even just a ten-minute talk from someone that the teenager trusts can give them all the information they need to know to make a better decision.
love ya Jayden
Baustyn • Jan 9, 2020 at 10:42 am
Hello Jayden,
Your argument over sexting is something that I can agree on, but I feel as though there wasn’t a counter-argument. sexting can lead to other sexual activities and legal action but can’t it lead to something else? while not necessarily good maybe something more positive? just as you state in the article “People that are not against teen sexting, say that sexting in a relationship can make the trust and relationship grow stronger” could you possibly expand on that comment maybe give more examples?
Natalie Cruz • Jan 9, 2020 at 10:41 am
Counter argument – Sexting is an issue and has been for awhile but sexting allows trust between two people.
My argument: Although most of the time teens feel pressured to send nude photos sometimes teens want to send photos and text messages to feel more grownup even though they are still young. I myself dont send photos but young kids in this generation feel like they have to grow up too fast.