Sexting – the practice of sending sexually explicit material via a mobile  device – appears to be a common behavior amongst tweens and teens.

In Steve Martin’s 1989 movie, Parenthood, Martha Plimpton’s character, Julie Buckman, is mortified to discover her mother has picked up the photos she and her boyfriend, played by Keanu Reeves, had taken in her bedroom.

This type of sexual experimentation may be an inevitable consequence of boundary-pushing coupled with our society’s seemingly insatiable appetite to see, hear and be a part of what everyone else is doing. Previously confined to traditional 35mm cameras and bulky camcorders, the advent of handheld mobile devices equipped with internet connectivity and high resolution picture and video-taking abilities has made it much easier to create, distribute and share amateur, do-it-yourself exhibitionism.

Sexting – the practice of sending sexually explicit material (text messages or photos) via a mobile device – appears to be a common behavior amongst tweens and teens. According to the Sex and Tech Survey by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 22 per cent of teen girls and 18 per cent of teen boys have electronically sent or posted online nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves, while over 35 per cent have sent or posted sexually suggestive messages. Even if they aren’t doing it themselves, 40 per cent of teens and young adults admit seeing sexually suggestive material meant for private consumption for another party, while 20 per cent have shared material meant only for them.

This behavior may reflect typical teenage hormones and a lack of judgment, but it can have devastating personal and legal consequences. In Wisconsin, a 17-year-old teen was charged with child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child and defamation for posting nude photos of his ex-girlfriend on his MySpace page. A 12-year-old girl from Connecticut was arrested for emailing a naked picture of a classmate, snapped during a video chat. In Canada, those who possess, make or distribute this kind of sexually explicit or erotic material can face imprisonment, fines and the lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender. Less severe, but equally damaging, consequences could include expulsion, suspension and possible exclusion from extra or co-curricular activities, if the behavior contradicts acceptable use or code of conduct policies.

73 per cent of survey respondents said they know sending sexually suggestive content can have negative consequences, yet 22 per cent say they are more ‘forward’ digitally than ‘in real life.’ So, why do it? More than 40 per cent of female teens and young adults cite pressure from guys as the reason for sending sexually suggestive or pornographic material, while 20 per cent of boys say it is pressure from friends that makes them post or send suggestive text and images. Although a lot (40 per cent) of girls send this type of material as a ‘joke,’ 29 per cent of teen boys agree that girls that send this type of material are expected to date or hook up in real life.

Parents may want their child to have a mobile device for safety reasons; but experts agree that communication is key. Before handing over a mobile device to your child, ensure you have outlined clear expectations about appropriate cell phone behavior. This may mean setting limits on time and content as well as implementing privacy controls. These strategies are more effective if the parent shows an interest in and learns more about the options and applications their teen is using.

Since about 80 per cent of teens and nearly half of all kids aged eight to 12 have a cell phone, according to a recent Nielson report, the focus should be on reducing the associated risks of mobile device use while encouraging youth to communicate in a safe and appropriate manner.