Turn it on, turn it off
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'Text-ercises' Dr. Sadler recommends the following exercises to release the
stress and tension of texting: By the numbers * 18 percent of 12-year-olds owned cell phones in 2004 |
Photos and video by Shaquana Nelson
A few weeks after reporting this story, the Illinois House passed a proposal to ban sexting among minors. The proposal is now headed to the Illinois Senate. For more, go here
Texting has become the primary way for teens to communicate, but few are aware of the downside. Some teens say that they text because it’s faster and easier than talking on the phone. Others say they text out of habit or to chat with friends during class without getting caught.
Tiona McMahon, a 17-year-old student at Chicago’s Best Practice High School who texts without even looking down at the keypad, says, “My [talk] minutes aren’t free and I think that I can express myself better [using texts].” She adds: “It’s fun and easy . . . talking on the phone is boring.”
But it’s not all fun, according to family practice physician Jane Sadler of Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas. Sadler, who spoke to this reporter via the Internet, also says, “Texting too much may cause arthritis and you might need thumb joint surgeries in the future.” Back soreness is also caused by poor posture while texting. Some students report that texting affects their concentration in school or can cause emotional distress (some students use texts to harass or bully classmates). Sleep deprivation, exhaustion and repetitive stress injuries can be caused by texting.
In fact, according to a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, young people ages 8 to 18 are devoting an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to daily media use (watching TV, playing video games, using a computer and cell phones), or about 53 hours a week, up an hour from five years ago.
People who own a cell phone are consistently getting younger. A survey released this past December by the Pew Research Center found that 58 percent of 12-year-olds own a cell phone, up drastically from just 18 percent in 2004.
According to Pew, teens are using and misusing cell phones as part of their sexual interactions. The main concern is with “sexting,” the sharing and forwarding of sexually suggestive nude images by minor teens. Pew also states that 15 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have received nude images over their cell phones, while 4 percent have sent explicit photos.
A 17-year-old female student at Best Practice says she "sexts" with her boyfriend at least five times a week. “I’m not ashamed to say that I sext . . . I think sexting should be only between me and my boyfriend. It shouldn’t be shared with anyone so I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”
Some city officials don’t agree with that. Law enforcement and district attorneys have begun prosecuting teens who have created and shared nude images. Last year in Pennsylvania 17 students, who were either pictured or found with provocative images in their cell phones, just avoided felony child pornography charges by entering a mandated counseling program, according to MSNBC.com. And worse, one incident in Florida left 18-year-old Phillip Alpert listed as a registered sex offender for the next 25 years after he was convicted of sending nude images of a 16-year-old girlfriend to family and friends after an argument.
While texting can be fun there are many risks -- from physical injuries to emotional trauma to more life altering consequences like a criminal record. Alpert, now 20, regrets sending the text. He told the Orlando Sentinel last March: "I didn't know how bad of a decision it was."
So be aware when you text; and stop that sexting!
Two teens talk texting:
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