Responsibility Blog

Sexting:  From Concern to Action

By Susan Butta | October 20, 2009

If ever there was a “hot button issue,” sexting fits the bill. It has handily piqued the curiosity, ire and concern of everyone from parents to school administrators to policymakers to law enforcement and understandably, mobile carriers such as us. As you may know, sexting is generally defined as the act of sending sexually explicit photos via cell phones (or over other electronic devices, including computers).

In and of itself, sexting is eyebrow-raising. Add to the equation a sender or receiver who is under the age of eighteen and suddenly a problem of ever-growing proportions begins to appear. Getting the word out to kids about the possible ramifications of sexting is the key. Child pornography charges, a jail sentence and having to register as a sex offender should deter them from sending a racy photo of themselves or someone else. And, even if these legal repercussions were to disappear, the emotional fallout would remain as would the effects such a decision could have on their future.

Our solution: education.

Recently, we partnered with the Ad Council to create a PSA called “Textual Harassment.” The campaign focuses on the subject of “digital dating abuse,” and has been running on mobile, TV and web platforms.

Another recent launch of ours is the Verizon Parental Controls Center; which houses up-to-date digital safety information, tools and resources. Our hope is that everyone who visits will learn, participate and generally get involved in the ongoing conversation about relevant topics such as sexting, cyberbullying and digital citizenship.

Let us know what you think.