News

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/lat-heb-sexting-associated-with-actual-sex-20120917,0,6570581.story

Teen sexting associated with actual sex

 

According to a new study, teens who "sext" are more likely to have had sex. (Roslan Rahman)

 

By Jon Bardin Los Angeles Times

September 17, 2012, 12:04 p.m.

Hopeful parents, a new study has bad news for you: According to a study of Los Angeles area youth ages 12 to 18, kids who "sext" are not using it as a replacement for actual sex. In fact, the study shows that those who admit to sexting are significantly more likely to also say they engage in sexual intercourse.

That result may seem obvious, but some researchers hadn't previously been convinced. They wondered if kids might use sexting as a safer but still thrilling activity that would partially replace sex in their lives, allowing them to interact in an explicit fashion with their peers without the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

That turned out not to be the case. In fact, the researchers found that kids who sext were a whopping seven times more likely to say they also had sex. Importantly, this does not mean that sexting leads to sex like a gateway drug — though that can't be ruled out, either — only that they're associated.

Instead, it simply means that sexting and sex form parts of what the researchers call a "clustering of sexual risk behaviors." Find one, and you're more likely to find the others.

In the article, the authors take pains to point out that sexting is often not a harmless activity, even when considered on its own. In particular, they point out the troubling ease with which a sext can be forwarded on to others, leading to traumatic social situations. There are also the worrisome legal implications of sending underage sexual material to an unpredictable series of recipients, who may be subject to child pornography laws as a result.

The researchers suggest that pediatricians should begin to integrate sexting into their discussions of sexual activity with adolescents, both as a segue to discussions about sexual intercourse and as a way of communicating the potential pitfalls of sexting — the things a kid should be thinking about before he or she hits "send." They also suggest that sexual education programs in schools should take on the topic alongside other discussions of safer sex.

Their final suggestion? Use texts for good, by getting kids signed up for emerging healthy text messaging services like San Francisco's SexInfo, which allows teens to ask awkward questions (like "what do I do if the condom broke?") via text.

 

Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-teens-sexted-pictures-study-20120703,0,918683.story

Nearly 1 in 4 teens has 'sexted' nude pictures, study says

A recent study suggests teen sexting is prevalent. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times / July 3, 2012)

 

By Monte Morin, Los Angeles Times

July 3, 2012, 1:18 p.m.

It might not come as a surprise to any parent who has caught their teen-age child red-handed and red-faced while sending a sexually explicit text message, but a new study is suggesting that “sexting” is prevalent among adolescents.

A report published online Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine suggests that the sending and receiving of sexual photos and messages via cellphone and computer, or sexting, is common among teens and may be linked to their sexual behaviors. In some cases, sexting may be a risk factor for, or an indicator of, risky sexual behaviors.

 

“Specifically, more than 1 in 4 adolescents have sent a nude picture of themselves through electronic means, about half have been asked to send a nude picture, and about a third have asked for a nude picture to be sent to them,” wrote the study authors. “Boys were more likely to ask and girls more likely to have been asked for a sext.”

A total of 948 public high school students were questioned for the study. Among other findings, authors found that teens who sexted were more likely to have begun dating and to have engaged in sex than those peers who did not sext. Moreover, teen girls who sexted were more likely to report having engaged in risky sexual behaviors, such as using drugs or alcohol before sex and having multiple partners.

Lead study author Jeff R. Temple, of University of Texas Medical Branch Health, in Galveston, and his colleagues, concluded that teen-focused healthcare providers should consider screening their patients for sexting behavior. “Asking about sexting could provide insight into whether a teen is likely engaging in other sexual behaviors (for boys and girls) or risky sexual behavior (for girls),” they wrote.

Study participants ranged in age from 14 to 19 years and were in either the 10th or 11th grade. Of all the participants, 55.9% were female; and the race/ethnicity makeup of the analyzed sample was 26.6% African American, 30.3% white, and 31.7% Latino.

The study noted that the use of cellphones and text messages has grown enormously in the last five years. At the same time, the age for cellphone ownership has grown steadily younger. In light of their findings, study authors said governments should consider softening penalties for sexting behavior when both parties were minors. “Under most existing laws, if our findings were extrapolated nationally, several million teens could be prosecuted for child pornography.”
It was unclear to study authors whether adolescents’ sexual experiences and engagement in risky behavior preceded or followed sexting, but they did find that 27% of girls reported being bothered a great deal when they were asked to send a sext – whereas only 3% of boys responded in a similar fashion.

“Commonness of a behavior does not condone its occurrence,” authors wrote. “On the contrary, we found that teens are generally bothered by being asked to send a naked picture. In fact, nearly all girls were bothered by having been asked."
In an editorial that accompanied the published study, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine wrote that our understanding of human behavior in an immersive, social media environment is involving.

"Indeed, sexting appears to be a media expression of adolescent sexual intent or behavior, rather than a distinct phenomenon limited to the digital world," the editorial stated. "Thus, pediatricians may consider sexual disclosures in a social media setting as an expression of adolescents' offline sexual intentions or behaviors."

The editorial noted also that teens spend hours each day interacting with social media. Consequently, they are more likely to be exposed to sexting and cyber-bullying and that healthcare providers needed to be aware of this.

"Pediatricians should view social media as part of the integrated self of the adolescent patient," the editorial said.

Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times

____________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/03/sexting-expelled-sb-919_n_870778.html

Students Can Be Expelled For Sexting Under New California Bill, SB 919

The Huffington Post Amy Lee First Posted: 06/03/11 09:56 AM ET Updated: 08/03/11 06:12 AM ET

 

You might want to stop and think before sending those naked pictures of yourself to your paramour, especially if you're in California.
The California State Senate has passed a bill that makes "sexting" an expellable offense in the state. The bill, SB919, was passed unanimously this Tuesday. The bill will have to be approved in the Assembly and signed by Jerry Brown to enter into law.
According to SB919, sexting is defined as "sending or receiving sexually explicit pictures or video by means of an electronic act." California law lets school districts discipline students for their actions while on school property, coming and going from school, during lunch breaks, and when traveling to school-sponsored events.
The Associated Press reports that the bill's sponsor, Senator Ted Lieu, "says it's a growing problem in California schools. He cited a study saying one in five teens reported sending or posting nude or semi-nude pictures and videos of themselves."
Several states have attempted to crackdown on teen sexting. New Jersey, for example, has taken a different approach to sexting. The AP previously reported on a proposed bill under which "New Jersey teenagers caught texting or posting sexually explicit photos online could avoid prosecution under a measure that would give first-time offenders the chance to complete a diversionary program."