Last update: 15 September, 2022
The arrival of the Internet has changed our lives, no one can deny it. Technology is present in everything we do… You couldn't even read this article if it weren't for it!
The main users of the network are young people, who spend most of their time connected: they exchange photos, comment on what happens through social networks, take the famous selfies and chat on WhatsApp. However, even though they represent the majority of users, it is not just young people who are connected frequently.
The Internet has given birth to new ways of communicating, getting to know each other, staying in touch. There are even tons of couples who have the internet to thank, otherwise they would never have met. But what we want to tell you about in this article goes beyond that.
Have you heard of the term sexting before? If you don't know, we explain what it is. The word sexting derives from the union of two words: sex (sex) and texting (sending and receiving messages with the mobile phone). At this point, you will have understood what kind of phenomenon it is.
Sexting, however, does not only consist in sending text messages with erotic content, but also includes sending sexual photos or videos.
The mechanism is as follows: a person takes a video of himself with a smartphone, tablet or webcam while he undresses, plays with his hair or assumes sexual poses (in the most extreme cases, he can also film scenes of self-eroticism or couple relationships). The video is then sent to another person or someone is watching the live scene from another device.
While for many people, sexting is a fun practice that only serves to flirt or warm up with your partner, in other cases it could have unpleasant consequences. For instance, when you send the video to a person who you only met through the web and who may have very different intentions.
This is a very popular trend among teenagers, who unfortunately do not perceive it as something dangerous. Most parents aren't even aware of it and don't know what risks it entails. At their age, then, teenagers are often unaware of what might happen and therefore do not take precautions.
While it might seem like a simple erotic or sexual game, sexting is more than just sending someone a compromising video or photo. These files, in fact, could be spread uncontrollably and be seen by thousands of people, who may or may not know the subject of the video.
The most common risks of sexting:
1 - Loss of privacy: when the material is sent, we lose our control over it. It could end up in anyone's hands.
2 - Psychological trauma: When we show our intimacy to someone else (be it one or more people), we could trigger problems like depression, shame, exclusion from the group of friends, etc.
3 - Cyberbullying: if those videos or photos end up in the hands of a classmate, the subject could be humiliated in front of others, be the victim of blackmail, etc.
4 - Extortion: that material can be used to blackmail the person involved, force them to do things under the threat of showing everything to parents, professors, friends, etc.
And there is so much more: Sexters are usually more vulnerable to falling into the clutches of a sex maniac or a pedophile, so it is good to be very careful. It is not a simple game, you are putting your physical and psychological safety at risk.
What can you do as a parent? Pay attention to the use our children make of electronic devices, talk to them about the dangers that behaviors like these can cause, try to catch changes in their behavior, which could hide a problem they do not want to talk about, etc.
And finally, a tip for young people who practice sexting: remember that nothing you post or post on the internet is private. When you hit enter, you can't go back.
Sexting is not harmful behavior in itself, but there are several factors surrounding it that can make it dangerous. We must be careful and be cautious: as they always say, better to be safe than sorry.
