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SEXTING & SELFies Think texting sexually explicit messages is harmless? n amalgamation of ‘sex’ and ‘texting’, sexting refers to swapping sexual messages, photos or films, usually by mobile phone. Lots of people find it flirty, fun or less embarrassing to swap sexual messages or photos by text rather than talking about sex and fantasies face-to-face, however, you should always remember that once you share something, you lose control over it and it can quickly and easily be shared, printed or saved. Before you press send you should consider how you would feel it yours or your partner’s friends or family saw it. Whilst you may trust your partner now, things can change in the future. You might think it is really boring to consider all of these risks when you would rather be flirty, but a study by the Internet Watch Foundation showed that up to 88% of self-generated images have been collected and
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put onto other sites, so you should ask yourself, is it really worth it? Before you press send, consider: ■ Is the phone you are sending the messages to secure? Could the phone be accessed by someone else? ■ If you have never met the person you are sexting, are you sure of their identity and intentions? ■ Could you be putting yourself at risk of bullying or
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If you are with someone who puts pressure on you to send sexual messages, but you don’t want to, you could be in an abusive relationship. If you’re worried or want to find out more, see page 110.
blackmail? Could these photos be used against you to do things you don’t want to do? ■ Even if you are sending messages to someone you are in a relationship with, can you be sure they won’t share them if you break up in the future? ■ Do you really want to ‘sext’ or are you doing it because you feel pressured, or because it feels like everyone else is? If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.