A recent survey of 1,300 teens by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy showed that:
- 71% of teen girls and 67% of teen boys who have sent/posted sexually suggestive content (also known as "sexting") say they have sent it to a boyfriend/girlfriend.
- 51% of teen girls say pressure from a guy is a reason they send sexually suggestive messages or images. Only 18% of teen boys cite pressure from female counterparts as a reason.
- One in five teens say they've "sexted" even though the majority knows it could be a crime.
Sexting is just one of the aspects of digital reputation that can have long-term consequences as colleges, potential employers, friends, and family members check an individual's online reputation. Three organizations—AT&T, iKeepSafe, and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)—have launched Project PRO, which provides interactive resources to educate teens and parents about how to protect and maintain their online reputations. The focus is on helping teens create "a positive digital reputation that will benefit them in the future."
"Project PRO allows students to see firsthand how actions on the Internet can affect their lives in the future. AT&T and iKeepSafe have provided school counselors with a vital tool to protect students from making mistakes online that they will regret into their adult lives," Amanda Fitzgerald, ASCA's Director of Public Policy, said. "Currently, 2,000 of our members have received the Project PRO materials and we are excited to distribute it to the rest of our 25,000 members across all 50 states."
For additional resources and information, visit the iKeepSafe Internet Safety Coalition at www.iKeepSafe.org.
