WINTER 2012 HALDIMAND-NORFOLK HEALTH UNIT Sexual CONNECTION in a 2005 article. It now occurs all around not in a relationship but where one of the the world, including Canada. people sends a sext in the hope that it will help to start a romantic relationship between Sexting is a result of advances in the two. technology enabling new forms of social interaction. Messages with sexual content 3. Exchange of photos between romantic have been exchanged over all forms of partners or the sending of photos from one historical media. Newer technology allows person to another with the hope of starting sending pictures, and videos, which are a relationship but the photos are then sent intrinsically more explicit and have greater to additional people impact, without the involvement of photo printing personnel, or the need of a photo What is the Big Deal About processing. The danger with sexting is that Sexting? material can be very easily and widely sent, over which the originator has no control. The concern with sexting occurs when that explicit photo lands in the hands, or on the When people take and send sexually phone, of someone. In a technology world revealing picture of themselves or send where anything can be copied, sent, posted, sexually explicit messages via text message, and seen by huge audiences, there’s no such it’s called “sexting.” While experts differ on thing as being able to control information. statistics, a 2010 study conducted by Pew Once it is out in cyberspace the photo is Internet & American Life Project confirms now public. This explicit photo can be sent sexting is a teen reality that’s here to stay. to friends, employers, posted on facebook, Kids “sext” to show off, to entice someone, sent to school personnel or a parent. It may to show interest in someone, or to prove also find its way to the police. Sexting has commitment. also been used to bully teens. There are teens that have actually committed suicide Sexting Sending these pictures or messages is because they were being harassed, called THAT PICTURE IS NOT AS problematic enough, but the real challenge PRIVATE AS YOU THINK names like slut or whore. These victims were comes when this content is shared broadly. miserable, depressed and became afraid to As far too many teens have found out, the go to school. It ended by the taking of their What is "sexting?" recipient of these messages is in possession own life. of a highly compromising image or message Most teens today are comfortable with that can be easily posted on a social documenting their lives online. Posting networking site or sent to others via email photos, updating their status messages, or text. sharing rapid-fire texts, and being a click away from friends are the new normal for teens. Why do Teens Sext? But this “always on” culture also creates an environment where teens can make Pew Research Centre (2009) found that most cases of teen sexting fell into the impulsive decisions that can come back to Margot Fournier, Public Health Nurse, Sexual following three categories: haunt them. Sexting is combining the word Health Program, Health & Social Services 519.426.6170 Ext. 3225 • [email protected] sex and text- is ’the act of sending sexually 1. Exchange of photos solely between explicit photographs and messages primarily romantic partners in a relationship. Terri Hartwick, Public Health Nurse, Sexual between cell phone’. The first known Health Program, Health & Social Services published mention of the term "sexting" was 2. Exchange of photos between two people 905-318-5367 Ext. 346 • [email protected] SEXUAL CONNECTION What About Sexting and Canadian Law? According to the Law Foundation of Canada, for adults, exchanging nude photos electronically is, under most circumstances, a legal activity. However, the creation and sending of nude photos of people under the age of 18 does, technically speaking, break Canada’s child pornography laws. The child pornography sections of the Criminal Code of Canada are intended to prevent the sexual exploitation of young people. Specifically, the Criminal Code Section 163.1 on child pornography makes clear that the creation and distribution of images depicting sexual activity or the depiction of a sexual organ of a person under the age of 18 is a criminal offense (for the actual wording of the law, see Department of Justice, 2011). The primary objective of this law is to protect children The Haldimand-Norfolk Health and teens under age 18 from being Unit has a new DVD called: exploited and harmed by adults through Fast Facts the creation and distribution of child • 25% of teens, primarily girls, have pornography. In general, the intended SEXTING taken and sent nude photos via purpose of the child pornography law cell phones and computers 22% of does not include the prosecution of teens Sex Plus Text Equals Trouble teens admit that technology makes for the taking and sharing of nude photos (sex + text= trouble) them personally more forward and as long as the photos are kept private aggressive. The DVD program features 3 between the original partners (Slane, scenarios that deal with different 2009). Nevertheless, sending nude photos • 38% of teens say exchanging sexy aspects of the topic: of teens under age 18 over an electronic content makes dating or hooking up device is, technically speaking, a criminal with others more likely. • how what seems like innocent fun offense. • 29% of teens believe those can turn to embarrassment when exchanging sexy content are nude pictures that are meant to What’s the Take Home “expected” to date or hook up. be private accidentally end up in Message? an unintended hands; • 39% of teens and 59% of young 1. Will you feel comfortable that your adults had sent sexually explicit text • how sexually explicit pictures can privacy is protected if your current partner messages be used for revenge; becomes your ex partner? • 51% of teen girls give pressure from • the need to take personal 2. There is no changing your mind in a guy as their reason for sending, responsibility for your actions; the cyberspace– anything you send or post will • 66% of teen girls and 72% of young legal never truly go away . You cannot delete a consequences of sexting, including photo from cyber space. adult women claim the activity to be “fun & flirtatious.” possible charges of disseminating 3. There are unexpected consequences it child pornography; the sexting images that are eventually seen by • 17% of those who had received a consequences of not protecting a family members, friends, people who don’t sext reported that they had passed computer, cell phone, personal Ids like you, and even future employers. it along to one or more other and passwords. people. 4. Sexting may violate Canadian child If interested in borrowing this DVD • 25% of teen girls and 33% of teen pornography laws especially if the photos please contact boys reported that they had seen are of a person under the age of 18 years. Margot at 519-426-6170 Ext. 3225 or nude or semi-nude sexts intended Terri at 905-318-5367 Ext. 346 for someone else. or talk to your school nurse. 2 WINTER 2012 SEXUAL CONNECTION SEXTING QUIZ What is sexting? Your friend from bio sent a text with a One in five teens say they have sent photo of a girl from your gym class in it. or posted nude/semi nude images of Sending and receiving sexual content. She's not wearing a shirt. What do you themselves and 39% say they have sent Sending or receiving images that are suggestive. do? or posted sexually suggestive messages. What percentage of teens say that Sending or receiving texts with sexual Send it to your buddy who used to doing so can have serious negative or profane language. date her. All of the Above. Delete it and forget about it. consequences? Contact a teacher or trusted adult 15% Your friend sent you a picture of his immediately 50% girlfriend in her underwear. Who could 75% get in trouble for this? Lots of teens say they send sexy 35% messages and pictures of themselves to Yo u Him people like their boyfriends or girlfriends. His Girlfriend But what percentage of teens say they All of the Above have sent this stuff to people the only Sexting know online? True or False You and your boyfriend are flirting via 15% Read each of the questions below and text. He says something sexual. Is that 10% sexting? Could he get in trouble for 3% mark true (T)or false(F). sending that? 25% 1. __ Sexting on your cell phone is no Yes, but it's a private message between big deal. the two of you so it's not illegal. What’s the #1 reason teens say they’ve Yes. If one or both of you is underage, sent or posted sexy messages or images? you could be in big trouble. In response to something sent to 2. __ Sending sexual pictures to your No, no one else will ever see it. them first friends is ok. To be fun or flirtatious True or False: Texts can be deleted. If Because friends pressured them to I send something really bad, it will be do it 3. __ No one can access your erased eventually. As a joke pictures on your cell phone. Tr ue When sexy messages and photos are sent False they often get seen by more than just 4. __ If a picture of you is on the intended recipient. How many teen facebook, you can ask that Your friend is being pressured to take a guys say they have been shown nude or facebook remove it and it won’t be racy picture of herself on her phone to semi-nude images originally sent to in cyber space any longer.