Sexting/Sextortion

Overview

Sexting is a word in our modern lexicon born of the marriage between the words “sex” and “texting.” It means sending images, via cell phone or tablet, of children or teens that are inappropriate, naked or engaged in sexual acts.

Sometimes teens share the photographs voluntarily, but at other times teens may be coerced into taking or sending the photographs. Once the photos are sent, some kids use them to bully, harass, intimidate, or embarrass victims online or via mobile devices.

Sextortion involves children and teens being threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online, it is a crime. 

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Once the photos are sent, some kids use them to bully, harass, intimidate, or embarrass victims online or via mobile devices.

Prevention Tips

FBI HOW WE CAN HELP YOU - SEXTORTION

  • The FBI has seen a huge increase in the number of cases involving children and teens being threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online—a crime called sextortion.
  • Sextortion can start on any site, app, messaging platform, or game where people meet and communicate. In some cases, the first contact from the criminal will be a threat. The person may claim to already have a revealing picture or video of a child that will be shared if the victim does not send more pictures.
  • Financial Sextortion – The FBI also has recently seen an increase in financial sextortion cases targeting minor victims in the U.S. Financial sextortion is different from traditional sextortion

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN

  • NCMEC has seen a dramatic increase in sextortion cases being reported to our CyberTipline, especially financial sextortion where the offender demands money from the child. Teenage boys have been the most common targets in these recent cases.
  • This crime may happen when a child has shared an image with someone they thought they knew or trusted, but in many cases they are targeted by an individual they met online who obtained a sexual image from the child through deceit, coercion, or some other method. In many cases, the blackmailers may have stolen or taken images of another person and they are communicating through a fake account. The blackmailer may have sent images as well.
  • What to do – If you or a friend have experienced sextortion, there are some steps you can take now to make things better. 

THINK BEFORE YOU SEND

  • Remember Nothing is Private on the Internet – Your Images will be shared and passed around by others. Once it is out there you have no control.
  • When You Post to the Internet It Never Goes Away – It may seem fun and flirty and you send it on a dare, but teachers, parents, potential employers, college recruiters, coaches, friends and enemies can find your past post forever. Link to Ad Councils Video, Bulletin Board
  • Don’t Let Others Pressure You Into Something You Don’t Want To Do (even Online) – 40% of teen girls say they post sexually explicit images because of “peer pressure”. Take control of your own actions and say “No.”
  • What Will the Person Who Receives the Post Think – You might mean something to be a joke or funny, but they may take it as the type of person you are. Consider the real-life impression you are leaving. Could this ruin your reputation? Link to Ad Councils Video, Everyone Knows Your Name
  • You Are Not Anonymous – 20% of the teens who post sexually suggestive images do so to people they only know online. Remember that someone can find your email, phone number and address if they try hard enough. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen …Pregnancy-Tech Survey)

WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO?

  • SSI Sexting Website Image NASP School PrepareEducate (staff, students and parents)
  • From the National Association of School Psychologists comes an article that outlines a number of legal and practical issues concerning “sexting” at school. This article includes: Negative Consequences, Prevention, Policy and Planning, Intervention, etc. … Is Your School Prepared for a Sexting Crisis?
  • SSI Sexting Website Image KDE Sample PoliciesReview policies and handbook relating to AUP, digital communication and Internet abuse
    >>Kentucky School Board Association has sample policies
    – Access to Electronic Media 08.2323
    – Telecommunication Devices 09.4261
  • State consequences clearly
  • Be consistent

Handouts

SNAPCHAT HANDOUT

Reporting is easy! If you come across something upsetting, or if anyone asks you to do something inappropriate or that makes you uncomfortable, please report the Snap. (KCSS Handout)

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TIKTOK HANDOUT

Family Pairing features let parents link their TikTok account to their teen’s to
enable a variety of content, privacy, and well-being settings. (KCSS Handout)

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SELFIES AND SELF ESTEEM

Taking a picture of yourself and posting it has become a virtual phenomena. Celebs are doing it, athletes are doing it and the President is doing it! (KCSS Handout)

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SOCIAL MEDIA/INTERNET SAFETY

Law Enforcement Can Subpoena “IP Addresses”. On Social Media Apps, when users agree to the terms of service an account is formed and information is logged. One piece of this information is a user’s IP address. (KCSS Handout)

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SEXTING HANDOUT

Sending sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos via cell phone, computer, or any digital device. Sexting may include photos and videos containing nudity or showing simulated or real sex acts. It also includes text messages that discuss or propose sex acts or other sexually explicit exchanges. (KCSS Handout)

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Resources

SEXTORTION: PROTECTING YOUTH THROUGH THE SCHOOL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

Sexting Website Image REMS - SextortionREMS – This fact sheet describes sextortion and its impacts on students and outlines how schools can protect youth from sextortion through the creation and modification of a Sextortion Annex in the school emergency operations plan (EOP).

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TEEN VOICES: SEXTING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND RISKS

SSI Sexting Website Image Common Sense Media Teen VoicesCommon Sense Media – Most middle schoolers aren’t prepared for the risks associated with sexting and self-disclosure in relationships. As technology makes it easier than ever for kids to share photos digitally, the stakes have never been higher. In this video, your students can listen to other teens’ honest — and sometimes frank — thoughts about their experiences with sexting, then consider how they might react in similar situations.

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IS YOUR SCHOOL PREPARED FOR A SEXTING CRISIS?

SSI Sexting Website Image NASP School PrepareNational Association of School Psychologists – It is much better to work to prevent sexting than deal with the aftermath, but educators must know how to do both.

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BARK MONITORING TOOL FOR SCHOOLS

SSI Internet Safety Website Image BarkBark – Bark for Schools provides a world-class online safety solution for K-12 schools in the U.S. Our comprehensive solution comprises G Suite and Office 365 student account monitoring, Chrome/Chromebook monitoring, and a web content filter that categorizes and blocks harmful and inappropriate domains.

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SEXTORTION

NetSmartz – Sextortion is a type of blackmail used by offenders to acquire additional sexual content from a child, coerce a child into engaging in sexual activity, or obtain money from a child. Children can sometimes become victims of sextortion after sexting with someone they thought they knew and trusted, but NCMEC analysis has found that children who are victims of sextortion are often targeted and blackmailed by an individual they met online. That person may use deceit, coercion, or another method to obtain a nude or sexual image of the child before blackmailing them for more.

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TIPS TO PREVENT SEXTING

SSI Sexting Website Image NetSmartz WebsiteNetSmartz – Learn why they do it and what to say about it.

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TAKE IT DOWN

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children – This service is one step you can take to help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18.

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NET CETERA: CHATTING WITH KIDS ABOUT BEING ONLINE

SSI Internet Safety Website Image Net CeteraOnGuard Online – This guide from the Federal Trade Commission covers issues to raise with kids about living their lives online.

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SEXTING AND RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF SEXTING?

SSI Sexting Website Image Common Sense Media Sexting RelationshipsCommon Sense Media – It’s natural for teens to be curious about their emerging sexuality. But most middle-schoolers aren’t prepared for the risks of exploring this in the digital age. Help students think critically about self-disclosure in relationships and practice how they’d respond to a situation where sexting — or a request for sexting — might happen.

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MANAGING ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE BY EDUCATORS AND OTHER ADULTS

SSI Sexting Website Image ITFCP Managing AllegationsInternational Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP) – This protocol provides a framework to guide school leaders and strengthen decision-making as they manage allegations of child abuse by educators and other adults currently or previously working in international school settings. Building on the work of the International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP) and the Safeguarding Unit at Farrer & Co, we continue our work across professions to develop child protection resources for the international school community.

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Sexting Laws/Training

STATE SEXTING LAWS

Cyberbullying Research Center (Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D. and Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D.) – This regularly updated fact sheet provides a brief overview and link to each of the state sexting laws.

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LEGAL IMPLICATIONS REGARDING SEXTING

SSI Sexting Website Image KET Legal ImplicationsKET Education – In this video, Mary Beth Uberti of Operation Parent discusses the legal implications regarding sexting.

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A TRAINING GUIDE FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND EDUCATORS ON ADDRESSING ADULT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN THE SCHOOL SETTING

SSI Sexting Website Image REMS Sexual Misconduct GuideTo help K-12 schools and school districts understand ASM, develop related policies and procedures, train on ASM awareness and prevention, and recognize the role of social media and technology in ASM, the REMS TA Center has released this guide.

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KENTUCKY CHILD PORNOGRAPHY LAWS

SSI Sexting Website Image KY LawsFindLaw – Under both state and federal law, child pornography is illegal. In Kentucky, there are various laws that criminalize the creation, possession, distribution, and promotion of material that portrays sexual performances by minors.

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ADDRESSING ADULT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN THE SCHOOL SETTING: AN OVERVIEW

SSI Sexting Website Image REMS Sexual Misconduct WebinarREMS – Webinar on the topic of adult sexual misconduct (ASM) in schools, and how schools and school districts can address this issue through the framework of their emergency operations plan (EOP).

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KCSS Sexting Resources

CYBERBULLYING AND SEXTING POWERPOINT FOR SCHOOL STAFF AND PARENTS

This downloadable PowerPoint is a brief overview of cyberbullying and sexting for school staff and parents. It defines and clarifies two types of digital media abuse. (KCSS)

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SEXTING POWERPOINT FOR STUDENTS

This PowerPoint is to be used with middle school and high school students. It is an overview of sexting and includes a definition, the consequences and the ramifications if caught with sexting photos. (KCSS)

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