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I recently attended a Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) panel discussion on Capitol Hill addressing the subject of “sexting.” This action, posting nude or semi-nude pictures online or sending them from a cell phone, is the latest online safety issue, of particular concern with teens. Recent reports are that 1 in 5 teens (ages 12 to 17) are engaging in “sexting.” Not only is the action an extremely inappropriate and risky behavior, it can also be illegal by violating child pornography and other laws.

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As I listened to the speakers, including Department of Justice attorney Monique Roth, Enough is Enough download Cold Mountain dvd

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Out Cold dvd President Donna Rice Hughes, and High School Assistant Principle Ting-Yi Oei, I wondered about the relationship of the behavior of sexting to the kids’, tweens’ and teens’ concept of privacy. What is their understanding of online privacy? What level of control do they believe they have over their personal information or photos? Do they understand how their personal information or photos can be distributed to others without their permission or awareness?

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Education and awareness about the dangers of sexting are important, but it is also important that kids and teens also learn about online privacy. A survey I conducted last year revealed that teens are 14 times more likely than adults to post pictures of themselves online. The survey also found that while almost all teens are concerned about protecting their personal information online, their behavior doesn’t quite match their level of concern. Sexting is certainly a prime example of my survey’s findings.

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One Response to “Sexting is the next big thing online…”

1. Is social networking changing the conditions of what is “private”? : Consumer Privacy Awareness Says:
   June 2nd, 2009 at 7:54 am

   [...] the argument that in some cases adults should look the other way. I’ve blogged before about how kids’ view of privacy is different from adults today. Kids put pictures online that I would consider too private for mass consumption. Is it just [...]

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Consumer Resources

Below are additional resources to more information about online privacy.

Consumer Guide to Online Privacy (PDF)
Consumer Online Privacy Survey
2008 Online Safety Survey
bNetS@vvy
www.onguardonline.gov
www.ikeepsafe.org/
www.getnetwise.org
www.fosi.org
www.enough.org

Other Organizations

National Caucus and Center on Black Aged:
http://www.ncba-aged.org/

National Consumers League:
http://www.nclnet.org/