Filed under: how to get your teen to listen, instant messaging, parenting teenagers, parenting teens, rick zapf, teen communication, teen help, teen parenting | Tags: cell phones, how to get your teen to listen, instant messaging, parenting teenagers, parenting teens, rick zapf, sexting, texting
I knew there was something going on, but once I checked the history of text messages and retrieved the pic that was sent I was mortified. What do I say or do?
Unfortunately, sexting is becoming more and more common among teenagers. Sexting is sending sexual messages via text messaging. Messages often include pics or video clips too (all thanks to modern cell phones). Unfortunately, statistics are also showing little concern for passing along pics (that photos for adults) to other friends teenagers text.
Your teenager isn’t the only one being affected either. Young celebrities stars have also fallen victim to send naked pics just to keep their boyfriends interested. All of this makes it way to our teenagers to think it’s ok. While your teenager would rarely think flashing someone in public is appropriate sexting gets the nod okay. The internet or text message sucks the personalization from a conversation allowing a teenager to think its not that bad or even worse nobody else will know.
What I encourage parents to do is monitor text messaging. But first open communication about texting and your expectations just as I talk about in my book, "How to Get your Teen to Listen: A Guidebook to Effective Communication and Parenting." But seriously monitor pics that are sent through your service provider. These images can come back to haunt not only your teen but your family later. Look for a future article where I talk about three teens and their families who were the victims of sexting.
So if it is too late, it is time to do damage control and fix the problem at hand with your teenager. Remember to stay calm and develop a plan in your head instead of just reacting to what happens. Talk to a friend, family, pastor, or counselor about your ideas and take their honest feedback. But remember you are here to protect your teenager not be their supportive friend. Parents may do or say things your teenager and their friends are not going to like. But be vigilant! Do whatever possible to erase the file and its effects.
Have questions or would like to sign up for the monthly newsletter, click here. Remember, parenting teenagers doesn’t have to be difficult.
Rick Zapf, MS
Author, Family Therapist, and Teen Communication Consultant
