On/Off Teens Nude and Semi-Nude

Sexting refers to when a teenager sends nude or semi-nude images of themselves to someone outside their social group, without consent. Sexting has become increasingly prevalent; studies indicate that around 40% of teenagers have sent sexually suggestive messages or photos – this includes both boys and girls; with girls more likely than boys to send these intimate pictures out there.

Racy content is often being shared and reposted, according to Internet Watch Foundation data. One particularly concerning finding is that one in three teens have seen nude or sexually explicit photos that were non-consensually posted online without consent, according to these results.

Sexting may seem abstract when read about in news articles and statistics reports, but Hannah, a Joplin high school junior, understands those numbers are real children whom her friends and peers represent.

Hannah began sexting with someone she trusted and believed could help build her up, yet what started off as flirty texts quickly turned into conversations about masturbation and sexual intimacy.

Parents can teach their children to exercise caution when posting nude images online and how to report them as inappropriate. Parents can also encourage their children to use social media privacy settings so only people they trust have access to their private photos; and Instagram’s on-device nudeity protection feature, which automatically blurs images received in direct messages in an effort to discourage sexting.