Sexting is self-destruction
Many children, especially teenagers, have their own smart phones or tablets and this has brought about a myriad of problems between young people and their families these days.
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There are stories about teenagers surfing sites meant for adults, others engaged in illicit acts on the Internet, while some also upload photographs and videos of themselves or their friends and they engage in cyber bullying.
Unfortunately, these days the worrying trend among some young people is to take nude pictures of themselves and share with their friends. (See story on front page.)
What is it that such young people hope to achieve with this? Why would anyone (even adults) want to take nude pictures or videos of themselves?
Sharing nude or sexually suggestive photographs or content material, which is known as ‘sexting’, often has the potential to haunt teens who engage in it because it could harm their reputation forever.
Once the photograph, image or post is sent, it is out of the child’s control, as it could be downloaded by a countless number of people across the world and it is almost impossible to erase or delete such images from the Internet.
Some psychologists who have studied the behaviour of teens who engage in ‘sexting’ claim many girls do so as a joke or a way of getting attention or because of pressure from boys or men, while the boys also blame pressure from friends.
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But it is important for all young people to learn to be confident about themselves and not give in to pressure from anyone to do things that do not conform to their values.
While growing up, children are taught to cover up their bodies and not allow anyone to touch any part of their bodies which are private.
Why would any such child now wilingly take nude pictures of himself or herself and keep on a smart phone or share with friends?
Sometimes, such children think if they are able to ‘sext’, then they are considered among the popular ones in school or their group and, therefore, do so to flirt with one another.
This is the time for all parents, guardians, schools and teachers to rise up and seriously monitor all children in their care to nip this bad behaviour in the bud before the moral fibre of children who will be in charge of the nation in future is destroyed.
It is also crucial to make youngsters know that it is not right to ever take nude pictures of someone or themselves and, above all, share with others.
Children need to be children and desist from engaging in acts that will negatively affect their lives in future.
Let all parents who buy phones and other such electronic gadgets for their children ensure that they monitor the children and protect them from self-destruction.