By Mallory Mattingly
Are your teens sharing explicit images of themselves with others? Here’s what you need to know and how you can approach the topic with your child.
Research from Thorn found that many teens send explicit images as a way of flirting and to “prove” trust within the relationship, Bark Technologies said.
Paired with poor body image, the mentality that “everyone else is doing it” and the fact that teen brain prioritizes rewards and approval over the long-term consequences of their actions, they willingly share sexual material with others.
The Cyberbullying Research Center found that “19% of youth have sent an explicit message, and 35% have received one.”
But in reality, youths who “sext” or “send nudes” are engaging in something called “self-generated child sexual abuse material.”
Bark explained that “any explicit image involving a minor — even one created by the minor themselves — is considered child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and possessing or sharing it can have serious legal consequences.”
Related: A Third of Young Girls Are ‘Sexting,’ Survey Shows
Sharing and creating explicit images of themselves can result in legal consequences such as the following, per Bark:
- Taking an explicit image of themselves can be considered creating CSAM.
- Saving or storing an image can be considered possession.
- Forwarding, screenshotting or showing it to someone else can be considered distribution.
- Group chats amplify the risks where one forwarded image becomes many.
- State laws vary, which makes things even harder to understand. See the latest on how laws stack up in your state here.
Emotional consequences like shame, embarrassment, anxiety, fear, loss of trust and more also come from participating in this kind of behavior.
So, what can parents do to help their child understand the consequences that come with sharing explicit images?
Below are some steps to take:
- Stay calm: “Take a breath, lead with reassurance, and remind them you’re here to help them, not punish them. Even a simple, ‘You’re not in trouble — I just want us to figure this out together,’ can completely shift their willingness to talk,” Bark said.
- “Lead with curiosity, not accusations”: Help walk your teen through what happened. Ask questions like: “What do you think happens to a photo after it’s sent?”
- “Debunk the myth of ‘disappearing’ messages”: In the age of technology, nothing truly disappears after it is sent or received. However, teens are under the impression that after a photo is opened or even deleted, it’s gone forever.
- “Introduce digital consent in a way that makes sense.”
- “Set clear digital boundaries together”: Help your teen set their own boundaries when it comes to sending photos.
- “Make a plan for mistakes”: Remind your teen that it’s okay if a mistake is made. They can come to you to help work through the mistake.
- “End with reassurance”: One mistake does not define a person, and teens needs to hear this in situations like these.
Most importantly, though, remind your son or daughter that no matter what they’ve done online, Jesus is ready and willing to forgive them if they ask. As parents, let’s encourage our teens to talk to us and to God about their online struggles.
Read Next: Parents of Suicide Victim Want Laws Against ‘Sexting’
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