Sexting is defined as sending or receiving sexually explicit or suggestive images or videos through the internet or mobile devices. Sharing pictures with a romantic partner is a normal part of a relationship when it is done safely and respectfully, but sexting can cause some major life complications.
Michigan law says that anyone who takes a nude photo of someone under the age of 18 has committed a crime. In fact, producing, distributing, and possessing a nude picture of a minor could be punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Producing means you take the picture, distributing means you send it, and possessing means you have the image on your device. These images could get you in trouble with your parents, your school, and even with law enforcement.
What happens if your partner asks for sexually explicit pictures when you don’t want to? Maybe you’re okay with sending them because your partner says they will keep them private. But what happens when and if you break up? Might those “private” images and videos be passed around or shared?
The bottom line is that you should think twice before sending a nude.
Here are some tips from the Cyberbullying Research Center.
Sometimes a sext can end up in the wrong hands where sexting turns to “sextortion,” which is essentially cyber blackmail. Unfortunately, sextortion is a threat that too many teens in Michigan face. It is a form of blackmail in which sexual information or images are used to extort sexual favors or money from the victim. They even threaten to harm the victim’s friends or relatives unless the victim complies with their demands. These threats may come from a former romantic partner or an online stranger. Some teens don’t know how to cope and may engage in self-harm and even contemplate suicide.
If you or a friend made a mistake and sent a sexually exploitative image you later regretted, you should be aware that assistance is available. Take it Down is a free service that helps children and teens remove their online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos, and videos. To learn more, visit https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
It is important to ask for help by talking to a trusted adult or through OK2SAY if you are being coerced into sending photos or videos or believe this is happening to a friend or classmate.
