Logan Coursen

CAS 283

Final Blog

 

            During this class, we have learned a lot about Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). Everything from the history and types of different communication to online dating and the addiction of CMC. In some of my past blogs, I have talked about how technology affects the world and new information on the 3D printer and its capabilities on printing guns. For this last blog, I am going to talk about an issue that I think is growing in our youth with the new technology and the access they have to different things. Sexting. I believe sexting is a big problem not because it is morally wrong but also because it is against the law if you are under the age of 18.

            Sexting occurs more between the ages of 14 and 17. Why do teens take part in sexting? There are four main reasons why. It is the first step before becoming sexually active, romantic relationships between partners, sexting is a good way to show interest in a future relationship with that person, and many girls feel pressured into sending explicit photos of themselves. There are many risks to sexting. Some include blackmail, after a breakup the photos are sent out, and a huge one among teens is sexual harassment. Now with the engagement in sexting and the risks of sexting there are also consequences. Some consequences for sending out nude photos of oneself is you could be labeled as a sex offender and be charged for distributing child porno.

            Some real life examples of sexting and the effects it has on people are in the sentences to come. Jesse Logan was an 18-year-old girl from Ohio who sent nude photos to her boyfriend. They were then distributed among his and her friends and her family. She was so humiliated by this that she killed herself.

            Imagine being convicted for distributing child porno. Five years on probation, colleges will reject you; you have to move because you are too close to a school, you lose friends, and people will not hire you; not to mention you will be registered as a sex offender until you are 43 years old, this is what happened to 18-year-old Phillip Albert of Florida. He sent nude photos of his girlfriend to friends and family, the problem was she was only 16 and therefore that makes it illegal and is considered child porno.

            Some other facts about sexting are teens who sext more are more likely to be having sexual intercourse. Most teens don’t realize that once they hit send they have no control over the content that was in the message. Most parents do not know what teens are getting into with the new technology and smart phones, not to mention there is no internet restriction. A misconception between people is that teens are not the only ones sexting, about 80 percent of college students do it and 30 percent of adults do it. Bottom line is if you’re not 18 don’t sext and even if you are above 18 be careful on what you send to people because once it’s out there it’s out there for good.