| These days it seems almost every teenager has a | | | | - Don't do it. Do not under any circumstances send |
| cell phone. In some cases it is their lifeline, their | | | | provocative images of yourself or others via a cell |
| connection to the outside world, their safety net when | | | | phone or on the internet. |
| something goes wrong. But increasingly it can also be | | | | - If you receive such a photo, delete it immediately. In |
| extremely dangerous, even life-changing. This article | | | | many countries it is illegal to be in possession of such |
| looks at the very real risks associated with cell phone | | | | photos let alone be responsible for transferring them. |
| use among young people and what we as parents | | | | Don't put yourself at risk. Parents - |
| should be doing to protect our kids from themselves. | | | | - Warn your children about the consequences of such |
| You have probably heard of the growing trend for | | | | behaviour. Be clear about how this can affect their |
| young people to send provocative images of | | | | future job prospects and relationships. |
| themselves to friends via cell phones. Once sent, these | | | | - Find out the legal implications should they even be an |
| photos are easily transferred to others or downloaded | | | | unwitting party to such an incident and tell them what |
| onto the internet, creating a digital footprint which | | | | they can expect as far as the law is concerned. |
| cannot easily be erased. Those photos, now in the | | | | - Learn how to use your child's phone so that you can |
| public arena, often in multiple places, are there forever | | | | monitor their use. Let them know that you will check |
| to potentially damage future career opportunities and | | | | their phone records if you have any cause to be |
| or relationships. | | | | suspicious. |
| More and more young people think nothing of | | | | - Check the photo gallery on your child's social |
| distributing these pictures to their friends but fail to | | | | networking pages and remove any photos that you |
| consider the consequences if they were to get into | | | | consider to be inappropriate. |
| the wrong hands - and they will. You now have no | | | | - Give your children clear rules on what you expect |
| control over where your photos end up or of who will | | | | from their cell phone use and follow through with |
| see them. They are now public property, set to remain | | | | appropriate punishments should these rules be broken. |
| floating in cyberspace, creating public humiliation and | | | | These are serious issues that can have irreparable |
| damaging your reputation until long after you reach old | | | | consequences. Talk to your kids and you just might |
| age. | | | | save them (and you) a whole lot of unwanted |
| The message to young people is - | | | | problems. |