Is sexting really a big problem as the media makes it seem?

[sgtjawa]

(For those not "in the know": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexting --Link may be NSFW)

I've talked to a lot of people who are in the right age group for this kind of practice, and almost none of them have ever gotten any "sexts". The only person I know of is someone I met on "Omegle", whom of course is not a credible source. I know the whole deal with moral panics, and how people can get so worked up over the smallest things to the point of rioting in the streets. Is this one of them, or am I just lucky enough to not be anywhere near it?

 

[Irridium]

I don't think its that bad.

But I do think that it is really stupid.

 

[Neonbob]

General rule of thumb: almost nothing is as big a deal as the media makes it seem.
Remember, their big thing is to get your attention and keep it.
So a good dose of skepticism is a healthy thing.

And I am quite certain none of my friends have gotten any either.
So you are not alone.

 

[Acier]

I think the main problem is risque pictures, which count as child porn if you 18. And that is just a whole world of legal nasty


That and those pics can be pretty embarrasing later in life

 

[BonsaiK]

I think sexually explicit text between consenting people is fine and no different from writing someone a sexual letter or sending them a photo in the post (i.e same laws should apply regarding age, consent, harrassment, etc). I would never do it myself though because who knows where it could end up.

 

[RagnorakTres]

Eh, a couple of my friends do it with their girlfriends, but I don't see any point in it. Of course, I don't have a girlfriend (nor any desire to get one at the moment, high school is stressful enough), so maybe I'm missing a whole set of reactions here. But, as Neonbob said...

[A]lmost nothing is as big a deal as the media makes it seem.

 

[Shru1kan]

Haha! I see my thread has provoked thought!

You know my feelings on the matter. Pretty good to kill time and spice up your day.

 

[carpathic]

I agree with Neonbob here, but I do see the potential problem with it.

I feel it is a bit like those people who stretch out their ears, or get facial tattoos (showing my age here a bit). Once a picture is taken in the digital age, it will be around forever, somewhere - same for text messages. When you are young, you don't have all the tools to see things in the longer term contexts that perhaps it would be useful to comprehend. Yes it seems like a cool idea at the time, but think about the creepy person up the street salivating over the text/pic because you didn't properly encrypt your data. Or getting a job with 57 piercings and a facial tattoo.

Hrm, feeling a bit like the old guy sitting on his porch yelling "hey you kids, get off my lawn!"

 

[Lexodus]

In my old school, a guy sent a picture of his schlong to the girl he was stalking. She then forwarded it to everybody... even the teachers. It was black and blue (obviously a sign of tough love )... and it was tiny.

Yet another scarring image burned into my brain.

 

[Gotham Soul]

I don't think its that bad.

But I do think that it is really stupid.

This.

 

[NotAPie]

In my old school, a guy sent a picture of his schlong to the girl he was stalking. She then forwarded it to everybody... even the teachers. It was black and blue (obviously a sign of tough love )... and it was tiny.

Yet another scarring image burned into my brain.

What the hell?

OT: It's not really a big problem I mean I did it, I don't do it anymore but I have done it.
Like I said in the other thread, I look back and say "That was pretty stupid of me"

 

[Sgtkillalot0]

Never heard of it, so I guess not.

 

[sgtjawa]

In my old school, a guy sent a picture of his schlong to the girl he was stalking. She then forwarded it to everybody... even the teachers. It was black and blue (obviously a sign of tough love )... and it was tiny.

Yet another scarring image burned into my brain.

I'm not sure wether that's funny or just sad.

Maybe a little of both, actually.

 

[SniperWolf427]

General rule of thumb: almost nothing is as big a deal as the media makes it seem.
Remember, their big thing is to get your attention and keep it.
So a good dose of skepticism is a healthy thing.

And I am quite certain none of my friends have gotten any either.
So you are not alone.

Dammit... You ninja'd the shit out of me.

And considering you've said exactly everything I was going to say, I'm forced to simply put:

This ^

 

[RatRace123]

I don't think its that bad.

But I do think that it is really stupid.

That's it in a nutshell.

 

[prinxess]

My sister sent a sext to her boyfriend. They broke up a week later and next thing I know, I have a picture of my sister topless on my phone... Sexting is bad D:<

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

If it's between two consenting people then what's the problem...These media peoples take something simple and make it seems like a national threat to peoples this is just another example of that.

 

[sgtjawa]

My sister sent a sext to her boyfriend. They broke up a week later and next thing I know, I have a picture of my sister topless on my phone... Sexting is bad D:<

That must have made for some awkward dinner conversations afterward.