Dangers and consequences of sexting highlighted

WITH an increase in people sending pictures or photographs of themselves naked or semi-naked via electronic means, police have urged members of the public, especially teenagers, to refrain from these activities.

Sexting is the act of sending a picture/photograph of yourself naked or semi-naked, and also involves sending flirtatious or sexual messages to others, often using acronyms and abbreviations.

What are the dangers of sexting?

Sexting can have dangerous consequences.

You should be aware that it is no longer a fun joke when the 'sexted' images are shared among thousands of people, and it can ruin your future.

Here are some of the dangerous consequences that you could suffer:

• Loss of control: Once an image, message or video has been shared, the sender has lost all control of where or how it will be distributed or used

• Humiliation: Caused by having your explicit content circulated can be devastating. In some tragic cases, the level of despair and shame has led people to serious self-harm and even suicide

• 'Sextortion': A combination of the words 'sex' and 'extortion'. Extortionists and blackmailers have always leveraged their knowledge of others’ indiscretions, or their possession of compromising images and communications. There is no shortage of 'sextortionists' hoping to leverage their victim’s sexual content for their own financial or sexual benefit

• Legal consequences: Sexually-explicit photographs, videos and communications, even when sent between minors under the age of 18, may be classified as child pornography, and the taker of the image, the recipient, and anyone who shares the content, may be charged and found guilty of crimes • Social consequences: These can include humiliation, bullying and cyberbullying. Physical consequences: Sexual content can increase the likelihood of becoming a victim of physical abuse. These images can end up on the internet and in the hands of paedophiles.

What can I do to protect myself?

Never share, copy or download the sexually explicit image in any way.

If someone asks you to send a naked picture of yourself or to participate in sexting, ask them to stop or just do not reply at all.

But if they are still bothering you or making you feel upset, block them.

If an adult has been making you do things you feel uncomfortable with, such as asking you to share pictures of yourself online or by text, tell an adult you can trust about it.