Sexting: “Send Me a Pic!”

Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit material from one person to another, usually via mobile phones.

Sexting came to fruition due to our ongoing change in technology and new media of social interaction. Not only are we the age of Facebook, Twitter, and dating websites, we are also a new dynamic of communication through pictures, texts, and online messengers.

The Sexting Era

The Sexting era really came into play around 2005. This might have been because our technological advancements allowed “smart phone” users to send pictures via email or texts.

Since we are now a world that lives and dies by convenience, we now find younger generations with a multitude of ways to communicate through technology.

I remember when I was in high school in the late 90′s, very few people even had a cellphone. You were ahead of the curve if you had a pager. Now almost every kid in America that can ride a bike, has an iPhone and/or an iPad.

But what type of function on a phone has now really pushed the envelope when it comes to Sexting?

You guessed it.

The camera.

Now almost every phone available has a camera that comes built into it. And what’s the point of owning a camera on your phone if you can’t send the pictures to another source?

This new world of Sexting has become very popular with teenagers and young adults. I believe sexting is most common with this age range because most teenagers and young adults fail to see the consequences of there actions when it comes to Sexting.

Photos and videos sent from one outlet to another can end up almost anywhere these days. Graphic pictures can also be photoshopped, airbrushed, and just completely falsified to make it look like almost anything these days.

So why do we risk so much for a cheap thrill?

Do we really need more excitement and entertainment for satisfaction and gratification?

Because we haven’t even discussed the outcome from Sexting that completely supersedes embarrassment.

Prosecution.

We live in a country with very strict anti-child pornography laws. Some teens who have texted pictures of themselves, or friends or partners to other teens, have been charged with distribution of child pornography. Also, those others who have received the photographs, have and can be charged with possession of child pornography.

That’s why they are called “privates”. Because photographs of people genitals are not meant to run through cyber space like Usain Bolt running the 100m.

In summary, you might want to think twice before pressing the send button on your phone after a racy photo shoot in your Mom’s bathroom with no towel after a shower. You never know who is gonna send it on or how it is gonna wind up on the wrong iPhone 4s.

Yes a picture is worth a thousand words. But a naked one is worth a thousand words and a possible vacation to your county jail.

And they don’t allow cellphones in there.