If you haven’t done it, you probably know a friend or someone else who has…sexting. And while you might think it’s harmless, that photo can have life-long consequences, thanks to social media and the Net in general. We’re not trying to scare you. Well, maybe just a little, but only because we care about you-  and your future. Here are some things you might want to consider. I know it’s so hard to think beyond what’s going on this weekend, but your future is closer than you think!

Let’s take a moment and think about what could possibly happen if the person you’re sending it to decides to pass it along to someone else.  Maybe a break up occurred or you had a big fight, or they’re trying to brag to their friends or get some attention. Whatever the case may be… your picture is now out there forever!!  And the moment you sent it, you lost all control over what someone else may do with it. It could possibly end up on a website, or become visible for you Principal, Coach, parents, friends and teachers to see it… or maybe even your younger brothers or sisters?  How would that make you feel? Unfortunately, this happens all too frequently, and the effects can be devastating and make you feel embarrassed at best, or hopeless at its worst.   

I know it’s easy to think this could never happen to you, but I work with thousands of teens, many of whom have said the same thing, and then I’ve heard from more than a few, that they ended up regretting that very moment they hit sent. They wish they had thought through some of the consequences, because sometimes it can go beyond just mere embarrassment.  What happens when you’re ready to apply to college and an admissions counselor comes across it? Will it hinder your acceptance?  Or maybe it’s a background check for your dream job, but there’s no call back because some of those pictures you sent as a teen have resurfaced.  They’re in cyber space forever. I’m hoping this won’t be your story and you’ll consider all the risks.

If the potential for embarrassment and the possible risks to your college acceptance and career aren’t enough to convince you that sexting isn’t the best idea, you may also want to consider the legal consequences. These differ from state-to-state, but in some places if either the sender or the receiver of the picture is under 18, you can be prosecuted for child pornography. That means you would end up on a sex offender registry and that follows you for your entire life because you have to register every time you move and the records are public. We’re sure most people don’t think about that before snapping a “sexy” shot and texting it, but they should if either person is underage, and especially if one is over 18. It’s just not worth it for a few seconds of excitement.  To find out more about the specific laws in New Jersey, you can visit this legal site and find our state by scrolling down to the bottom.

Trust me, it’s not that we want to keep you from any fun, it’s just that we don’t want to see one bad decision have an effect on the rest of your life.  Most teens just don’t think about the risks involved before sexting and we want you to make the best decisions possible when it comes to anything involving sex.  Please reach out to us on our contact form if you’d like any more information about sexting or anything else involving relationships or sex or you can text 201-677-2394.