The National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children NCMEC has issued a policy statement regarding sexting. The statement is a product of extensive
dialogue with leaders in the field, and was developed with the strong
involvement of the American Bar Association's Center on Children
and the Law.
"Sexting" is a complex issue that covers a wide range of
severity. NCMEC believes that the primary response to "sexting" must
be positive, empowering educational messages directed to parents and
teens. Parents must become more involved in their children's
lives, be more aware of what they are doing, and set limits. Teens
must become better informed about the implications and repercussions
of their acts."
Two years ago, before the word "sexting" was invented, NCMEC
launched a public service advertising campaign in partnership with the
Ad Council. The message was "Think Before You Post." The
campaign sought to alert teens to the risks associated with "sexting" and
other online communications. Once the images are out there, you
can't get them back. They can affect a teen's future,
impact his or her ability to be admitted to college, be hired for jobs,
and much more.
Yet, NCMEC also believes that in some instances, "sexting" entails
serious criminal acts requiring investigation by law enforcement and
action by authorities. The vast majority of these cases should
be handled through the juvenile justice system with its rehabilitative
ideal. But in some instances, more severe sanctions may be necessary.
A survey conducted for NCMEC by Cox Communications and released in June
2009 found that 19% of teens surveyed had sent, received, or forwarded
sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude photos through text message or
e-mail. Of the teens surveyed who had engaged in "sexting," 60%
sent the photos to a boyfriend/girlfriend and 11% sent them to someone
they did not know.
NCMEC knows about "sexting" firsthand. NCMEC's
Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed 27 million
child pornography images and videos since 2003, 9 million in the past
year alone. Of the children successfully identified and rescued,
10% of the images were self-produced. Another 14% were produced
as a result of online enticement by another party who persuaded or extorted
youth into taking and sending explicit photos.
A copy of the new Policy
Statement on Sexting issued by the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children can be found on the organization's
web site www.missingkids.com.
Additional
resources for parents include: Safety tips for cell
phone use can be found at www.NetSmartz411.org. Parents
can locate an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in their area
at www.icactraining.org. Suspected
child sexual exploitation can be reported at www.cybertipline.com.
This year the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children observes
its 25th anniversary. NCMEC has played a role in the recovery of
more than 142,000 children. Today, more children come home safely
than any other year in the organization's 25-year history raising
the recovery rate from 62% in 1990 to 97% today. And more of those
who prey on children are identified and prosecuted. Yet too many
children are still missing and too many are still the victims of sexual
exploitation. There is much more that needs to be done.