Introduction
Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between mobile phones. The exchange of these images through digital media allows sharing to become instantaneous to the masses. With the rise of sexting within schools and work environments, it has caused several problems. It has resulted in damaging the careers and reputations of the individuals, as well as, working, academic, and romantic relationships. Sexting may seem like a simple text message exchanged between two people, however, once an image is in digital form its capable of being forwarded and shared with an entire community, school or university. A message that was meant for private eyes can be seen by fellow students, coworkers, colleagues. More recently sexting isn’t just an innocent flirting but an issue of infidently.
The Effects of Sexting on Relationships:
Most common sexting usually occurs between a couple that is dating or romantically involved. However, sexting has become a new form of cheating.
Although it doesn’t involve physical contact the emotional impact on the relationship can be equally as damaging. Infidelity once consisted of suspicious perfume and late night work “meetings” however, sexting has made cheating more accessable, sometimes from a individual’s own couch.
According to Paula Hall, a psychotherapist, “The defence is that it involves nothing sexual not even touching. But there’s a deceit and a breach of trust. The participants are playing with fire.'”
In addition, sexting isn’t just for teens. More recently adults have participated in sexting as a means to escape their marriage or relationships. Sexting provides an outlet, escape, or adventure for the indivdual.
In addition, sexting not only affects romantic relationships but working and social relationships. In Pennsylvania, six high school students are facing child pornography charges after three teenage girls allegedly took nude or semi-nude photos of themselves and shared them with male classmates via their phones.
Sexting and the Negative Effects on Professional Relationships:
There are several cases where pictures were exchanged resulting in child pornography charges.
These charges result in the individual having to register as a sex offender in the community and limiting the number of jobs they can apply for and places they can live.
For many of us our carreers and jobs are an intracrate part of our lives. We go through great lengths to acheive our dream job. Years of schooling, training and prepartaion goes into our careers.
Unforutaunately, many of those endavors can be ruined with in an instant or in this case a ‘sext’ message. Although we try to keep our private lives, private, what we do off the clock and out of the office does effect our careers. In additon, a mistake made 15 years old can haunt someone for the rest of their lives.
In many cases students and teens are charged with child pornography charges. These charges lead to registering as sexual offender. This follows someone for the rest of their lives and affect where the can work and where they can live. Lawsuits involving sexting span across the board and sometimes involve children as young as 15.
In addtion, empolers are becoming more savvy to sexting. They are checking company emails, computers, and cell phones to be aware of what their empolyers are doing on the clock . There are several cases of sexual harassment being filed against empoluers and empolyees for conducting inapproraite sexual behavior on company time.
Sexting and your Academic Career:
The majority of those texting are highschool and college aged kids. Many of which are attending colleges and universities. We create social networks, lives and friends all which can be destroyed instantaneously. In the case of Jessie Logan the taunting she received after allegedly sending a nude photo to her boyfriend led to her committing suicide.
Addtional Links to learn more about Sexting:
References:
Ash, Blue. "Parents File Lawsuit Over Daughter's Sexting Incident." Cincinnati News . N.p., 12 May
2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. http://www.wlwt.com/news/19439830/detail.html.
Betts, Hannah. "'Sexting': the new infidelity? ." Telegraph. N.p., Feb. 2010. Web. 13 Mar. 2010.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/relationships/7271420/Sexting-the-new-infidelity.html>.
Brunker, Mike, ed. "‘Sexting’ surprise: Teens face child porn charges." MSNBC. N.p., 15 Jan. 2009.
Web. 18 Mar. 2010. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28679588/.
Muscari, Mary E. "Sexting: New Technology, Old Problem." MedScape Today. N.p., 1 May 2009. Web. 15
Mar. 2010. < http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/702078>.
Pounds, Marcia Heroux. "Personal devices pose new sexual harassment issues at work." http://www.sun-sentinel.com. N.p., 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. <http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-texting-harassment-081909,0,2384849.column>.
Commcsusb309's Blog 
Sexting is very negative on relationships. Although it’s just a picture, the consequences of the picture have a greater effect on people. One simple picture can destroy a relationship!
Yes, this is something that is becoming a growing problems, especially among teenagers. And in matters of infidelity, even sexting can have a profound effect on a relationship. An example of this was in the recent George Clooney movie “Up In The Air”. Seen it? There are a few key scenes that sexting plays a large part in the affair of the two main characters. How can we expect young people to not participate in this activity, when it’s glamorized on the big screen?
I think sexting is a big problem especially when it comes to relationships. People think that by sending sexual messages they are not physically cheating and dont see a problem with it. In actuality it may be a lot worse because you will never know who they have been talking to and what they have been sending. Its good that people are getting charged because its ridiculous to think that little “babies” of 13 years of age are sending things like these.
I thought this piece was well written and it reminds me of the documnetary that MTV did about sexting not to all ago. I know sexting could damage your life because of the documentarty but I never knew that people were doing this type of thing in the work place. I really only thought teens were doing this to rebel or something. This piece has opened my eyes about sexting.
Sexting has really gained a lot of attention over the past few years. Many political and celebrity figures have been caught up in sexting. I dont understand why its so hard to let a person know how you feel in person. Sexting seems to be a escape for those who cant dislose their feelings in person, this blog just proves my point and sheds truth on how damaging sexting can be to a person and relationship.
I think that this blog about sexting within relationships is very good because from the way technology has gone this has become a very big topic. So many relationships are being broken up and ruined because of sexting, and like the blog states not only romantic relationships but relationships between co-workers, friends, family members, and etc. Our society has become so dependent with phones, internet, and other sources of communication without being face to face.