LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Sexting is something teens may do intentionally or fall into without realizing the consequences, according to Crime Victim Services. As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the organization is urging the public to understand the dangers associated with sexting.
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the organization is urging the public to understand the dangers associated with sexting.
Sexting — the act of sending or sharing sexual messages, images, or explicit photos through phones, the internet, or social media — can have both legal and emotional consequences, particularly for minors.
"I'm trying to bring awareness to some of the long-term effects — not just legally, not just on the internet — but some of the emotional effects, like fear," said Pamela Silver, a survivor advocate with Day One. "People get teased a lot, and sometimes they're even deceived into sending pictures. They think they’re sending them to one person, and it's not that person at all."
Silver said that not only the person who takes the photo but also the one who receives it or forwards it can face legal repercussions. She also warned that once an image is shared, there is never a guaranteed end to how far or for how long it may circulate.
Crime Victim Services encourages parents, educators, and teens to have open conversations about online safety and the serious impact sexting can have on young people’s futures.
Crime Victim Services encourages parents, educators, and teens to have open conversations about online safety and the serious impact sexting can have on young people’s futures.
