Textual Harassment and Sexting

Introductions

Definitions

Video

Textual Harassment:
The activity of sending text messages to mobile phones which insult or abuse people.

Who/what/how

• Constant, harassing, unwanted messages
• Can involve many people, or one person 
• Physical Abuse 
• Cause emotional distress
• It can happen to anyone 

Video

Sexting:
Sending or forwarding nude, sexually suggestive, or explicit pics on your cell.

Who/What/Where

• Sending/distributing explicit images 
• In the phones of everyone(Family, Friends)
• Can be arrested for having the picture 
• Relationships shattered 
• Ruined Reputation 

Guam/State Laws

Guam Legislation

• Bill No. 41-31 (COR)
• Enacted March 8, 2011
• Relates to bullying, cyberbullying and sexting

U.S. Legislation

• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
• Tracking "sexting" legislation since 2009
• At least 20 states + Guam 
• Recent sexting legislation enactments:
• Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota (2012)

Statistics

Why the Guam Legislature implemented the bill against sexting:
They found research conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy showed....

39% of all teens have sent sexually suggestive texts
48% of teens say they have received such messages
71% of teen girls and 67% of teen boys who sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they've sent or posted it to a significant other.
21% of teen girls and 39% of teen boys say they've sent such content to someone they want to date or "hook up" with
25% of teen girls and 33% of teen boys say they have had semi-nude or nude images originally meant for someone else, shared with them

A report by the US Justice Department's Bureau of Statistics in 2006 found that 23% of victims that year that reported stalking or harassment had been pestered using text messages.

Statistics from a 2012 survey by the National Campaign found the percent of teens that have sent nude pictures or videos are:
20% of teens overall
22% of teenage girls
18% of teenage boys
11% of teenage girls ages 13-16

Age Differences


A 2009 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 17-year olds are twice as likely to engage in sexting compared to 12-year olds. The survey also found that 4% out of 800 teens said they send explicit images and 15% had received them.

The Effects on Textual Harassment and Sexting Victims

More pervasive and passive form of violence
Cyberbullying, cellphone texting, and cellphone sexting are more subtle and prevailing forms of harassment
Technology has made it easier for bullies to stalk and harass their victims
Embarrassing information about a person can be sent to a magnitude of people

Personal Consequences

• Isolation from family and friends
• Guilt, humiliation, and objectification 
• Insecurity and depression 
• Suicidal tendencies
• Decline in academics

Legal Consequences

• Possession of child pornography 
• Distribution of child pornography
• Legal consequences for parents
• Risk of being registered as a sex offender 
• Lawsuits

Personal accounts

TIps and advice

PArents

• Monitor texting
• Include sexting in the "sex talk"
• Know the signs
• Talk about the consequences

what teens should do

• Acknowledge that you're not alone
• Educate yourself
• Keep your number safe

The mistake was made

• Talk to your parents
• Contact the police
• Change your number and keep it safe
• Block their number, stop all contact with them

Ready to have some fun? Activity time!

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