Teen Sexting: Tips for Parents (Part Three)

Cell phones are everywhere. Almost everyone uses a mobile device to communicate with others. The spurred growth of cell phone usage has resulted in an increase in the number of teens who have engaged in sexting. Parents should be aware of the widespread nature of sexting so they can keep an eye on inappropriate behavior on cell phones. Parents need to be pro-active and talk to their teens about the legal consequences of teen sexting and the emotional ramifications of sexting with peers. This blog post will conclude my three-part series on teen sexting and will provide tips to parents about how to handle teen sexting.

1. Talk to your kids about what they are doing on the internet. Most parents have the “sex talk” with their children and that talk now needs to include the topic of sexting. Success with teens and sexting is very much related to whether parents have had a discussion about sexting and its consequences. It’s essential for kids to grasp the short-term and long-term consequences of their actions.

2. Create limitations for electronic communication usage. As parents you have the right to limit your teen’s time online and on the phone. I often recommend that families purchase desktop computers that are used in public areas of the house where you can monitor kid’s activities. By having a computer in a public place you decrease the likelihood that your child will be tempted to log on or to talk to friends at 2:00 am. I also recommend that for cell phone you create a phone contract with guidelines about the use of their cell phone. For an example of a cell phone contract click here.

3. Be aware of what your teen is posting online. Check your teen’s Facebook, MySpace, and other public profile. You need to be aware of what your teen is sharing with the virtual world. This may mean that you periodically log into their pages or have them log on and show you their pages. Another option is to create an account with http://www.gogostat.com, which is a company that notifies you whenever your child posts vulgar words online or posts new pictures or accepts new friends.

4. Set expectations for your teen. Tell your teen what is considered appropriate electronic communication and behavior. Don’t just tell them once about these expectations but remind them from time to time. You don’t have to do it in a way where your kids think you don’t trust them; however, you need to let them know you care about them and that you are paying attention to their behavior.

5. Make adjustments to your cell phone plan, when necessary. If you have a teen that you are worried about, I want you to remind yourself that the cell phone does not belong to them and that you can adjust their plan at anytime. That may mean you need to block their photo messaging or you no longer allow them to have text messaging services on their phone. Remember to be the parent, not the friend. It is your job to keep your child safe.
Resource

Interested in a free e-book about parenting and teen sexting? Click on this link and check out Lori Cunnigham’s website and order her free book.