Sexting Risky For Teen Sexual Behavior
If your adolescent is sexting, they may be already sexually active and engaging in risky behavior, a new study suggests. Researchers are trying to better understand if young people are at greater risk for HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases because they are sending sexually explicit photos or text messages via cell phones. " Sexting " is not an alternative to "real world" sexual behavior among adolescents, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. "The same teens who are engaging in digital sex risk taking through sexting are also the same teens that are engaging in sex risk with their bodies in terms of being sexually active and not using condoms," said lead study author Eric Rice, an assistant professor at the University of Southern California's School of Social Work in Los Angeles. A 2009 report from the Pew Research Center found that some teens "view sexting as a safer alternative to real life sexua