Dangers of Sexting

In a recent post article posted in the Teen Angst section on Psychology Today online, Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, MS, LPC, discussed the dangers of sexting.  As you may know, "sexting" is texting sexually explicit photos to someone else.  Once those photos are sent, there is little you can do to get them back.  As this article explains, often teenagers send these texts impulsively in the need of "instant communication and gratification."  However, most teens do not think about the ramifications of sending these type of texts.   The article points out that, according to "researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, more than 'half of teens have been asked to send a nude photo of themselves to someone, and 31% had requested a naked picture to be sent to them.'"  It is imperative for parents to educate their teenagers about the dangers and ramifications of sexting. 

The article goes on to discuss ways to protect teens from sexting, including educating teens about the legal ramifications of sexting.  At Spring Ridge Academy, we teach our students the dangers regarding the internet including sexting.  We encourage all parents to discuss this important issue with their teens.  For more information, go to the article No Safe Sext in Psychology Today.  

Teens Hiding Online Activity

According to a recent CNN article teens are hiding their online activity from their parents.  The security software maker, McAfree, completed a 2017 person study and found 70% of teens "hide their online behavior" from parents.  

The article stated that the study found that teens, not surprising, were mostly hiding violent online content at 43% and pornographic content at 32%.  However, some of the other things teens were hiding were surprising.  The study reported that "fifteen percent of teens have hacked into social networks; 9% have hacked into e-mail accounts; 12% have met face to face with a person he or she met on the Internet; and 16% of teens surveyed said they had used their phones to cheat on tests at school."

Teens have been hiding their activities from their parents for many generations, however, today the dangers and stakes are much higher.  Several companies now offer online controls and spy software for parents.  If you choose to use spy software, it is important to be up front with your child that you are monitoring their online activities.  To read this article, including the top ten ways "teens are fooling their parents" go to the CNN article,  70% of Teens Hide Online Behavior From Parents.  

Teens: Drinking and Driving

It is a new year and a good time to revisit our contracts with our teenagers.  In a December 27, 2012 article in the New York Times, Drinking, Driving, Teenagers and New Year's Eve, Dave Melton, director of global safety for Liberty International, stated that this is a good "time for parents to revisit the contract they may have had in place with their teenager regarding drinking, drugs and driving."  For a copy of the contract go to the CDC web site. 
 
Mr. Melton went on to reiterate the importance of teen agers knowing that their parents will pick them up if they have been drinking or the friend driving has been drinking.  He stated, "Recognize that some teenagers will be drinking...Renew your promise to pick up a child anytime, anywhere, no questions asked."   Sadly, relaxed parenting regarding underage drinking seems to contributing to the problem.  

According to the New York Times article, in a study commissioned by Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions of 11th and 12 th grade students, "they found that nearly half of teenagers said they were allowed by their parents to go to parties where alcohol was being served at least rarely, and more than a third said they were allowed to drink when their parents were with them. Slightly less than a third reported being allowed to drink unsupervised."   Let's keep our teenagers safe, and renew your safe driving contract with your teens.