Recently, a group of about 13 children at a high school in Dallas Fort Worth Texas were arrested in a sexting scandal. The officers involved said that in Texas, teenagers are charged with a misdemeanor for sexting. It is a much more serious issue in other states that can result in the youth being charged with a felony crime. Kids are then labeled sex offenders for an impulsive act that is common in many schools. Most often the messages and/or nude pictures are between teen couples and are released after they break up. However, there are many predators who groom young people, building relationships with the teen over months building their trust then start asking for sexually explicit talk and photos. /node/59151 Sexting can go viral in school settings and communities. Sexting , a brief guide for educators and parents by Cyberbulllying Research Center, states that 4-19% of teens ages 12-17 have sent a sexting message or photo, and that 13-31% of teens have received a sexting message. Wikipedia defines sexting as: 1. Usually involves sending nude and/or sexually explicit images or sexually explicit text messages. 2. Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile phones. /node/85235 With the plethora of social media and access to unlimited internet access, teens are being drawn into sexually charged interchanges with other students and strangers. All of this activity is unknown to the parents who assume their child is immune to acting out in this way. Due to the risks of having sexual content on phones now, there is actually now an app that will quickly delete photos and messages from the phone. The app industry is responding to the consumer who wants to delete photos and sexting with no trace. The problem is that teens are sexting in the first place. Parents need to know what their kids are doing with so much access to the internet and unlimited messaging. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and NetSmart.org report that parents need to keep open lines of communication with their kids so they are not afraid to come to them with their concerns if they receive or are asked for sexual material. /node/150390 Here are five questions they recommend to start a discussion with your kids about sexting: 1. Have you ever received sexual messages or naked pictures on your phone? 2. Has anyone asked or pressured you to send a nude photo or a sexual picture? 3. Do you think it is ok to send "sexy" messages or images? 4. What would happen to you if you sent or forwarded a sexual text or a naked picture? 5. How likely is it that images and messages intended for one person will be shared and seen by another person? Next: 5 things to tell your kids about the dangers of sexting... More Juicy Content From YourTango: All The Flirting Tips You Will Ever Need Text Message Flirting For Beginners The Best Sex And Orgasm Advice From YourTango Children need to know healthy guidelines to prevent sexting. Wondering what you can say to your kids? /node/83695 Below are five crucial things to tell your kids about the dangers of sexting: 1. Think about the consequences of sending a sexual text or picture. They can be kicked off sports teams or clubs. They can suffer psychologically by being teased by peers and called names. They can be arrested. 2. Never take pictures of yourself or others that you wouldn't want to show your classmates and teachers. 3. Before hitting send, remember your text or message may end up forever on the internet somewhere and you will have no control over it. 4. If you forward a sexually charged text or photograph of anyone under the age of 18 years old, you may be charged with a sex crime and labeled a sex offender. /node/140602 5. If you receive a sexting message, tell a trusted adult as soon as possible. This week is Children's Mental Health week. Let's keep our kids safe and have healthy dialogues with them about appropriate texting. Journey to Abundant Life as a family .
![Kids & Sexting: What Parents Need To Know [EXPERT]](https://www.yourtango.com/sites/default/files/image_blog/teens_texting.jpg "Kids & Sexting: What Parents Need To Know [EXPERT]")