ACOT Message Board

I've was listening to a discussion on the radio yesterday & I was very shocked to find that 1 in 5 teens these days participate in sexting. Either sending their own photos or passing photos of friends that they received. My kids are still young & don't have cell phones so it's not  conversation I've had to deal with but I'm curious those of you who have teens with cell phones, did you have a discussion with your kid on the inappropriateness of sexting? Are your kids open with you in discussing this topic & is it something they have had to deal with (received sexts) in school?  How did you handle it?

 
Oh my!   I still have young kids, so I am not going to have to deal with this for a while, but I am not looking forward to it at all.

Sexting is a new word for me. 

 I've never heard of it.  I'm glad Quincie is still you and loves to play with fake cell phones.

 I've never heard of it. My kids' cell phones don't text anyway. I'm a mean mommy like that.

It's fairly new to me too but is being agressively campaigned all over. Recently I believe in Connecticut a girls commited suicide after a nude photo of hers was circulated all over the school. Pretty sad how the advances in technology can be both so positive & yet so negative at the same time.

 So is that what sexting is..send nude photos of yourself to someone?  Didn't I hear they were going to use the Child Pornography laws to try and stop this?

 I'm another with a young one so I won't have to deal with this for a while (thank goodness!)  but I've never really heard of it either.  I *think* that Rachel Ray is discussing this on her show tomorrow...at least that's what the DVR says..

 I had to talked to my oldest son last year. He was a senior in high school and would get messages/videos from girls on a routine basis.  He said all the girls...especially the freshman girls, did it for attention.  There was this one girl who sent him a message at least once a week.  I called her mother. Didn't do any good...the mother got an attitude with me.Not that I was snooping through his phone for things like this.  I lost my phone somewhere in the house and used his to call my cell number. I'm not sure what I pressed on his phone but one of the message just popped up.  That's when I scrolled throught the rest of his messages.  He wasn't upset about it or anything.  He erased the messages but told me he's probably get just as many more.

 I am a guidance counselor and unfortunately this is an issue that is coming up in the schools WAY more than it should!  I first encountered it last year at a catholic school!  A girl had sent a few "sexts" and was being threatened that if she didnt send more the boy was going to mass text the previous pics to the entire school...which unfortunately did happen!!  It was such a horrible situation! And since that one situation I have only been hearing about it more and more.  Lot's of schools are just now figuring how they want to handle the situation becuase it is a new issue that has never been dealt with before.  It is scary the times that we are all living in today!

I don't have any children at home now to deal with that but I so worry about my grandchildren. I am not updated with what's happening but I see I need to be. It's so hard for me to understand how bad things have become morally.

 I am going to be such a mean mommy when my boys are older - the computer is going to be in the family room and their phones will be linked to mine.  It isn't going to be a matter of trust for them as much as a matter of trust for outsiders.

davsar wrote: I am going to be such a mean mommy when my boys are older - the computer is going to be in the family room and their phones will be linked to mine.  It isn't going to be a matter of trust for them as much as a matter of trust for outsiders.

That's what I've done. Computer is right in the living room FACING me! Phones don't have text, email or internet. You have to do it - there's too many weirdos out there.

 Scary stuff- I will have to let my friends and family know who have teens. Thanks for the heads up.

 how CARP that is some scary stuff. I always knew I would not be having the computer in little guys room, but I am gonna be like Tracy and no texting for him. However, by the time he reaches that age it will probably be some other crazy thing.

Thanks for the the heads up... egads

 My kids don't have texting either - but I was shocked to find they could receive photos!  Nothing weird but I didn't know that...

 Well,  I am a step mom and being the teenagers friend has brought us closer than ever.  One thing u have 2 realize is sexting is not just pictures but sending messages saying what they r going to do or want done to them in explicit details. My step daughter showed me messages that I did not think 14 year olds even thought to do to each other.  Of course I checked her sent mail to be sure because she said they send it to her and she just doesnt reply.  Boys are asking her to send pics with her parts showing for points with certain groups. Again,  she just ignores them so be careful with your growing kids.  I am sure it will only get worse over the years to come. 

And for the moms that say they are mean moms, stay that way. If they wont talk to you, let them know you will read the texts randomly and you will catch them if they are being nauhgty.  It is a sad generation growing up bu just keep on top of them and the kids will be fine....My fear is the wrong person talking with them impersonating their friends.....

 There's been a lot of talk about this on the news and on the internet news. I can't believe it. I'm fairly young -24- and my little sis is only 17 so I'm concerned about her. But I also know she is fully aware that my other sis and I would kick her a** if she did anything like that. And we would find out....

 Wow, I didn't know this had become such a widespread problem!  Sorry to hear this.  One more thing to worry about!

 I have heard about it a lot. And my friend and I aren't even mom's to teens. I think it's disgusting and very worrisom.

-Tracy- wrote: I've never heard of it. My kids' cell phones don't text anyway. I'm a mean mommy like that.

No, you're a SMART mommy. I don't blame you one bit!!!