Cell Phones Encourage Sexting and Cyber-bullying

Is the popularity of texting encouraging sexting and cyber-bullying among tweens and young teens today? It is the norm for 7^th and 8^th graders to have smartphones. But in reality are tweens really mature and responsible enough to be granted this luxury and empowerment of a smartphone? Tweens and young teens are under so much social pressure just to fit in and find out who they are in our society and then add the digital age with smartphones into the mix. No wonder why tweens and young teens are influenced by other peers to start sexting and cyber- bullying one another.

Parents really need to be persistent with tweens and young teens to respect themselves and others when using technology. If children are not taught to be respectful to others in person or online, how do they know it is wrong to cyber-bully? In reality, tweens and teens are unaware of the digital footprint they are leaving when they are sexting. They think it is just a part of growing up when they see their peers and older teens sexting. As a parent if you need help observing your tween’s smartphone, look into parental control monitoring software such as My Mobile Watchdog.