Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center
15 Riverside Drive NE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
(320) 251-4357
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4 out of 5 teens carry a cell phone
 (www.cbsnews.com)
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Cell phones are no longer just a phone
› Internet
› Text/Chat
› Music
› Videos
› Games
› Calendar
› Upload Photos
Text Message: 54%
 Call on cell phone: 38%
 Face to face: 33%
 Landline phone: 30%
 Social Network Site: 25%
 Instant Message: 24%
 Email: 11%
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 Pewresearch.org
72%-88% of teen cell phone users are text
messagers
 1 in 3 teens sends more than 100 texts a day
 Boys tend to send and receive less text messages
(30) whereas girls tend to send and receive
more text messages (80)
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 Pewresearch.org
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Definition
› “Sexting” is sending, uploading, receiving, or
forwarding sexually explicit videos, or text messages.
Photos or videos are often taken using camera
phones or Web Cams and passed along through cell
phones and computers using the internet.
 (National Child Safety Council)

According to a 2009 survey by the National
Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy, 20 percent of teens admit to
“sexting.”
 (knowledgebase.findlaw.com)

1 in 5 teens (13-19) reported having sent a
sexually suggestive image or message.
 (www.NetSmartz.org)
Eva Longoria-Parker/Tony Parker
 Sandra Bullock/Jesse James
 Tiger Woods
 Chris Brown/Rihanna
 Brett Favre
 Effects?

› Divorce, endless media scrutiny, domestic violence,
loss of sponsorship, sex rehab, fines, emotional and
psychological pain
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Pressured by friends
Gain popularity or fame
Be funny, joke around
Prove commitment to significant other, or impress someone
Hurt someone or get even
Some adolescents are responding to a sexual text message that has been received
Some are offered money
Adolescents make the decision without thinking about how their futures may be
affected
It is unknown how quickly information can spread via cell phones and the
internet
 (www.NetSmartz.org)
Unknowingly opening a sexually explicit photo
from an underage male or female can lead to
child pornography charges.
 “Sexting” a non-consenting person may lead to
harassment charges.
 Adolescents who send the inappropriate pictures
may face charges of producing, possessing,
and/or distributing child pornography.
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Example: If Lisa takes a nude picture of herself
and sends it to John, she may be charged with
the production and distribution of child
pornography. If John forwards the image to Tim,
John may be charged with the possession and
distribution of child pornography. And since
Tim has the picture in his possession, he could
also be charged.
 As long as the image circulates, anyone with it
may face charges.
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Felony child pornography charges
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Lead to a lifetime on the sex offender registry
Jail time
Fines
Serious reputation damage
FYI: A felony is 1+ year in jail and a minimum of
a $3,000 fine, or both.
 It is nearly impossible to find employment and
housing if you are registered as a sex offender.

 (www.NetSmartz.org)
Adolescents may face social repercussions such
as being judged or excluded by their peers,
communities and families.
 Adolescents that send the images may become
targets of mean comments, rumors and
harassment.
 The image will follow them forever, damaging
academic, social and employment opportunities.

 (www.NetSmartz.org)
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NEVER take or send sexually suggestive photos (nude or semi-nude).
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Think about the message before you press send
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Consider the victims
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Do not allow anyone to pressure you into “sexting”
Report any “sexting” you receive to a trusted adult
› Once you send or post anything over an electronic device (internet, cell
phone, etc.) it is no longer private.
› You could be creating a reputation that you cannot escape.
› Many suffer humiliation, depression, and some even attempt suicide.
› Do not delete the message, it could be an important piece of evidence in a
criminal investigation
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Make it stop
› If you have asked someone to stop sending you sexually explicit photos or
material, block their number from your cell phone.
 (National Child Safety Council)
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Definition
› Cyber-bullying is the use of technology to harass,
threaten, embarrass, or target another person.
 (kidshealth.org)
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Cyber-bullying can take many forms
› A threatening email
› Nasty instant messages
› Repeated negative text messages sent to a cell phone
› A website set up to mock others
› “Borrowing” someone’s screen name and pretending
to be them while posting a message
› Forwarding “private” messages, pictures, or videos to
others
 (www.isafe.org)
It can be easier to commit than other bullying
because the offender does not have to confront
the victim in person.
 Intentional online bullying can be a sign that the
bully is feeling hurt, frustrated, or angry, which
causes them to lash out.

 (kidshealth.org)
As of now, there are minimal laws against
cyber-bullying.
 It is left up to school policies to handle these
cases
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› What policies does your school have in place?
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We all have to work together on this VERY
important issue!
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Tell someone
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Walk away
› Speak up until you find someone to help
› You can always step away from the computer (or turn off your
phone)
› Ignoring bullies is the best way to take away their power

Report it to your service provider
› Sites like Facebook, MySpace, or YouTube take it seriously
when people use their sites to post cruel comments, or set up
fake accounts
› The site administrator may block the bully from using the site
in the future
 (kidshealth.org)
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Block the bully
› Most devices have settings that allow you to block the
individual from sending further messages
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Don’t respond
› Resist the urge to fight back
› Ask an adult to intervene
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Be safe online
› Password protect your cell phone and online sites, change
passwords often
› Share your password with only people you trust
 (kidshealth.org)
“Sticks and stones can break
my bones, but words can
kill.”

Phoebe Prince
› 15 years old, Massachusetts
› Tormented for 3 months by nine students via text
messages and Facebook because she was dating an older
football player
› Took her own life on January 14th, 2010
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Tyler Clementi
› 18 years old, New Jersey
› Was secretly taped having sexual relations with another
male, which was broadcasted online.
› Jumped off of a bridge on September 22, 2010
Youth who are bullied, or who bully others are at
an increased risk for suicidal thoughts, attempts,
and completed suicides.
 Research Study: 2,000 middle school students
selected, 20% of students who were cyber-bullied
reported thinking about suicide, while 19%
attempted suicide
 Victims of cyber-bullying were almost twice as
likely to have attempted suicide compared to youth
who had not experienced cyber-bullying

 www.cyberbullying.us
Depression
 Anxiety
 Low self esteem
 Often feel unsafe at home and in public places
 Alcohol/chemical dependency
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 (safeguardyourkids.com)
Approximately ½ of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender youth are regular victims of cyberbullying
 GLBT adolescents fear that there might be
retribution by tattling, so their need for help goes
unrecognized
 Fear telling parents because they might restrict use
of technology which is often the “lifeline to the
outside world” for many GLBT students who have
been made fun of by peers

 (www.livescience.com)
Social Networking Sites (SNS) create online
communities
 Provide a way for adolescents to express
themselves
 Keep in contact with friends and family
 Share photos, videos, personal updates, etc.

 (www.ftc.gov)
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Give easy access to online predators
› You never know who is on the other side of the
computer screen
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Displaying too much personal information
 (www.ftc.gov)
Do NOT post your full name, address or phone
number.
 Be cautious about posting information that can be
used to identify you or locate you offline (name of
school, sports teams, where you work or hang out).
 Be careful when updating your statuses
 Post information that you are comfortable with
others seeing and knowing about you. Many people
can see your page
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› parents, teachers, the college you want to apply to next
year, and the job you might want to apply for in five
years, etc.
Once you post it online, you can’t take it back.
Consider not posting a photo. It can be altered and broadcasted in
ways you may not be happy about. Or someone could identify you by
what you are wearing.
 Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet you in person
 Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you feel threatened by
someone or uncomfortable because of something online, tell an adult
you trust and report it to the police and the social networking site.
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› Predators often say nice things to make you feel important. A natural part of
being human is that we like to get compliments and feel good about
ourselves. Predators will take advantage of that be sure to trust your gut
feeling! If you are not sure if it is a safe situation, ask someone!
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You could end up preventing someone else from being a victim.
 (www.ftc.gov)
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www.Cbsnews.com
National Child Safety Council
www.athinline.org
www.Knowledgebase.findlaw
.com
www.NetSmartz.org
www.kidshealth.org
www.msnbc.com
www.YouTube.com
www.ftc.gov
www.isafe.org
www.Pewresearch.org
www.cyberbullying.us
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www.livescience.com
www.Safeguardyourkids.com
Wright County Court
Services & Brian Stoll