From the Asturias Youth Council they have published a Positive Sexting Guide to work in classes with students of 2nd ESO. According to studies, the practice of sexting is increasing from 12 to 17 years old, going from 3.4% to 36%. It is not something extraordinary and it is necessary to address it from the institutions due to the consequences. But,how the Principality sexting manual does it?
According to the guide, sexting is the practice of “sharing intimate photos and videos over the Internet. In these photos and these videos they can be naked, or not, they can be taken in the form of a “selfie”, they can be more or less explicit, and one or more people can also be involved”.
Also They point out that it is not a “bad” thing.Not a problem: it is a consensual erotic practice between two or more people who have a personal relationship of some kind, with a positive purpose and enjoyment, and in which all the people involved have the ability to make decisions. That is to say: it is only sexting if you want to do it”. And at the same time they explain that it is not sexting if the person receiving the images publishes the photos without our permission, takes a private photo without our consent, or posts them after a breakup.
“When we break a relationship – explains the guide – conflicts and very negative feelings can be generated that can lead us to act unfairly and painfully. As complex as the separation has been, it is NEVER JUSTIFIED to intentionally share private content for the purpose of revenge or harm. Respecting the privacy of relationships is an implicit commitment so that they are healthy and balanced”.
And later he adds: “It is important to know that relationships can end and that there can be conflicts between people. However, that does not justify that we can break with the commitments that we have established in the past. We cannot know the future and we cannot foresee betrayals or disrespect”.
Then tips are added to reduce future risks, such as avoiding showing the face, tattoos or any part of our body or objects that can identify us. They also advise: “Think before you send your content and review it: Remember that you can crop and retouch your photos and videos. There are plenty of free apps for it!”.
Whether we like it or not, the reality is that sexting is a frequent practice from certain ages and that it increases between 12 and 17 years of age. What happens with this manual is that, on the one hand, it does not make clear the consequences of sharing the images without permission. This is a crime, which brings jail and financial penalties. The dangers of carrying out this practice without knowing who is on the other side are not clearly seen either: not all those who ask for photos are minors, no matter how real their profile may seem. And that can be very dangerous for the mental health of minors.
Assuming that the practice exists and trying to guide its use is one decision, but encouraging people to do so by suggesting image editing pages is something completely different. And, even when it is practiced among children under 14 years of age (the audience for which this guide is addressed), saying that images can now be shared but that “relationships can end and that does not mean that we can break with past commitments”, is assume that we all understand that we should not do something that is a crime. And that this is enough.
In another section, the guide recommends the use of “tools that allow you to share your images anonymously and only with whoever you want, and that also allow you to delete them later. An example is the IMGUR website, where you can upload photos without giving any of your personal data. Later, you can share that photograph in the form of a direct link, without having to enter a profile or a personal page”. The problem is that they do not mention that Imgur, in its privacy policy, states that “No image uploaded to Imgur is completely hidden from public view”that is to say that anyone could see the image that one or a minor uploads to this website that they recommend from the guide.
Sexting is not a practice for minors, another thing is that it is carried out, but talking about positive sexting when the National Institute of Cybersecurity considers it a risky practice is confusing to say the least.
To understand the consequences of this practice, the legal IT expert Pablo Duchement has created this infographic.
In short: do minors practice sexting? Yes. Is it a risky practice? Yes. Are minors aware of the consequences? No. Is it logical to encourage this practice in children under 14 years of age? No.
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