New Research on Sexting and Middle Schoolers

While some research has indicated a correlation between sexting and being sexually active or engaging in risky sexual behavior for high school students, little has been uncovered for the middle school age population.

Sexting, sending or receiving sexual explicit photos or texts, has been linked in some studies to multiple sexual partners, unprotected sexual activity and even other risky behaviors such as binge drinking in high school students. 

While debate continues to swirl on this issue, researchers are trying to determine if sexting is an alternative to physical sexual activity or a part of today’s sexual behavior with technology a mainstay in teens' lives.

Past studies have included both high school and middle school age students, but the younger group has not been isolated to determine what the link between sexting and sexual behavior is at this more impressionable age.

A group of researchers recently focused on the middle age group through a questionnaire and analysis of data gathered from a Los Angles middle school.  “Sexting and Sexual Behavior among Middle School Students” by Eric Rice, Jeremy Gibbs, Hailey Winetrobe, Harmony Rhoades, Aaron Plant, Jorge Montoya and Timothy Kordic, appeared in a recent issue of Pediatrics.

The findings supported earlier results that sexting and sexual behavior are tied together. According to the study, those who reported receiving a sext were six times more likely to report being sexually active and those who sent a sext were almost four times more likely to report being sexually active. “As has been found consistently with young adults and high school–aged adolescents, sexting and sexual activity go hand-in-hand,” the study says. 

Due to these results that support earlier conclusions, the authors believe pediatricians should begin discussing sexting with adolescents as this may prompt conversations regarding sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention. The authors also feel sexting and associated risks should become part of middle school sex education.

As always, parents and adults of influence in teens’ lives can strive to combat risky behavior by discussing issues such as sexting.


Check back later this week as discuss apps

4 Popular Apps that Parents Should Monitor

Now, as more and more teens own smartphones, apps are definitely no stranger.

Although there are many great and beneficial apps available to all of us, there are several apps that parents need to be aware of if their teens are using them.  Apps that may keep parents in the dark about such issues as bullying, sexting and attracting pedophiles.  

Unfortunately, the case of a 12 year old Florida girl who jumped to her death after being cyberbullied on two popular apps, is only one example of how something as simple as using an app can become a way more complicated issue. (source)

We will describe of few of these apps and whey they need monitoring:

• Snap Chat

Snap Chat allows the sender to set an amount of time for how long they want their viewers to see their texts, photos or video messages.

This is the number one sexting app on the market.  Just because you haven't seen inappropriate photos on your teen's phone, doesn't mean they haven't been there. Snap Chat has made it possible for teens to send inappropriate material and make it look like it never existed.  

• Ask.fm

On of the most popular social networking sites/apps used by teens and pre-teens is Ask.fm. It is a question and answers site that allows the user to ask anonymous questions.  This app allow users to connect with their friends on Facebook and Twitter and has become a vehicle for bullying.

Ask.fm has led to 4 documented cases of suicide in 3 different countries, including the U.S., due to intense bullying. (source)

• The Whisper App

This teen confession app allows users to superimpose text over an image.

"Teens have started using the app for cyberbullying. Due to the anonymous feature of the app, teens are posting pics of other teens with derogatory text superimposed on the image. Users do not have to register to use Whisper thus no user profile. Unfortunately, the app allow users to communicate with other users nearby by using the device GPS location settings. Pedophiles seek out female whisper users to establish a relationship. Recently, a Seattle, Washington man was arrested for raping a 12 year old girl that was lured to a hotel through the app." (source)

• Kik Messenger

Kik messenger is a super quick instant messaging app.  This app allow teens (which are among the millions of users) to exchange videos, pics, and sketches. New Kik cards allow user send Youtube videos, create memes, and gifs without leaving the app. 

One of the dangers of Kik Messenger is that there is no way of authenticating users which makes it easy for pedophiles to use the app.

What parents can do: 

• Stay informed.  The age of technology is not the time to remain naieve or uniformed. If you feel very ignorant about technology, you may want to talk with other parents, read articles or take a course to help you understand what your teens are doing and how to monitor it.

Brian Lidle, a middle school principal of a school in Ohio who has seen dozens of cases of student harrassment via Kia in a few months time comments, "This is not our world that kids are operating in," Lidle said. "They call us digital immigrants. We have to immerse ourselves in what's going on in their world, as uncomfortable as it is. Our kids are at stake, and we cannot drop the vigilance of knowing what's going on in their worlds." (source)

• As with most teen issues, communication is key! Know your teen's interests, friends, and with whom and how they are communicating.

Sameer Hinduja, criminology professor at Florida Atlantic University and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center advises, 

"Constantly having these conversations with kids so that they know their parent is not oblivious to these issues goes such a long way," he said. (source)

• Don't be afraid to set rules, boundaries and even monitor technology and apps.  You are still the parent.  Besides, in most cases, who pays the bill?!

Please take the time to get informed and be involved in this way.  Unfortunately for many parents, it's too late!