Sexting is Not the Answer

By: A. C. & S. I.



Should I text someone naked pictures of my body?


Many teenagers and tweens think they know what sexting is, but do they know the right definition?


Well here it is: Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile phones. Also, it can be stated as a mix of the words “sex” and “texting” which is sending a text with sexual images. 


The majority of the time the receiver sends and or shares the photographs they receive with someone else. The person who sends the text doesn’t usually think about the after effect or consequences of their actions before pressing send.


Sexting may seem cool to a lot of people, but they are wrong. It is totally not cool and there are many consequences that you may never have thought of before doing it. 


Sexting has led to many problems in teenagers’ lives like murder, suicide, bullying, and many other kinds of distress.  


Many students at UAI watch shows like Degrassi: The Next Generation, Glee, and Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit. On all of these shows there has been at least one episode involving sexting. 


On an episode of Degrassi, Ali, one of the main characters, sends pictures of herself to Johnny, her boyfriend at the time, and he eventually sends the pictures to a bunch of his friends.  


Some teenagers think that because sexting is on TV and in movies they should do it too - even if there are negative results after the fact.



Sexting has its place in many movies and TV shows. A lot of people take this to mean that if they do it too they will be cool and popular. But being cool and popular isn’t everything.  You have to live your life to the fullest, but you also have to look toward your future.



The answer to sexting is “No!”

To check out episodes of sexting on TV check out:

• Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit, “Crush”
• Degrassi: The Next Generation, “Shoot to Thrill”

Learn more about sexting & digital abuse:

• MTV's a thin line - http://www.athinline.org
• That's Not Cool - http://www.thatsnotcool.com