She could send a message in seconds, without even looking at the keypad. She really never worried about her parents reading the messages because they don’t “text.” Even if they did, she knew they would never understand the abbreviations and code words. But the coolest thing about her phone was its ability to take pictures. She loved to snap shots of her friends at the ballgame or out shopping. One night, she awoke as her phone signaled an incoming picture. When she opened it, the picture she saw would change her life forever.

            It calls, texts, emails, accesses the Web, plays video games, contains an address list, has a built-in calculator, keeps time, has a daily planner, plays music, and takes pictures. There are an estimated 2.5 billion cell phones in use. In fact, in 2006, over 30 countries had more cell phones than they had people. The Turks and Caicos Islands have a saturation rate of 165.7%. 75% of Americans have a cell phone, including 80% of teens, ages 13 to 18.   

            What’s so bad about cell phones? Have you ever heard of “sexting”? According to Wikipedia, “sexting” is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. Sexting was reported as early as 2005 in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine, and has since been described as taking place worldwide. It has been reported in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Great Britain. In other words, quick messages from phone to phone called texting have turned into sexting. The cameras that made great photos for the scrapbooks have been turned into portable pornographic studios.   

            Now let’s examine some  statistics that should wake up the current generation of parents.  The number of teenagers who have sent or posted nude or semi-nude pictures or video of themselves by cell phone: 20% of teenagers overall, 22% of teen girls, 18% of teen boys, and 11% of young teen girls ages 13-16. The percent of teenagers sending or posting sexually suggestive messages: 39% of all teenagers, 37% of teen girls, and 40% of teen boys. Let’s keep digging! Forty-eight percent of teenagers say they have received such messages. Seventy-one percent of teen girls and 67% of teen guys who have sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they have sent or posted this content to a boyfriend or girlfriend. Forty-four percent of both teen girls and teen boys say it is common for sexually suggestive text messages to be shared with people other than the intended recipient. Fifty-one percent of teen girls say pressure from a guy is a reason girls send sexy messages or images; only 18 % of teen boys cited pressure from female counterparts as a reason. Sixty-six percent of teen girls and 60% of teen boys say their most common reason for sending sexy content was to be “fun or flirtatious.” Fifty-two percent of teenage girls used sexting as a “sexy present” for their boyfriends. Forty-four percent of both teen girls and teen boys say they sent sexually suggestive messages or images in response to similar content they received. Forty percent of teenage girls said they sent sexually suggestive messages or images as “a joke.” Thirty-four percent of teen girls say they sent or posted sexually suggestive content to “feel sexy.” Parents, are you listening?!

            We buy cell phones for our children for one primary reason—security. For parents who have teen drivers, cell phones give peace of mind and accountability. On one hand, parents are to be commended for going the extra mile to protect their children; but with the cure, so comes the curses. It is what many parents don’t know that is killing the souls of our children. What once was used for security is now being used for sin. As a parent, what can I do to protect my children (adolescents, pre-teens, teens, and young adults)?

1. As with any and all clear and present dangers, talk to your children about it. Ask them: “Have you ever heard of sexting? Has anyone ever sent you an immoral text or picture? Have you ever sent an immoral text or picture to anyone? Did you know it is illegal to send sexually explicit photos?” In fact, just last month, a 15-year-old Pennsylvania girl was charged with creating child pornography for sending images of herself via MySpace to a 27-year-old man.

2. Turn texting off. Texting is too tempting for teens and possesses a threat to their physical and spiritual health. Sexting aside, consider the dangers of  texting while driving. Many states are outlawing it while driving and schools are banning it from the classrooms. Maybe it is time parents reevaluate how much texting will be allowed—and under what conditions.

3. As a parent you have an obligation to read and see what your children are doing. If your children have a phone that texts and/or sends pictures, you can receive a copy of all these by making a simple phone call to your provider. You can also purchase monitoring software if your cell carrier won’t cooperate (www.pcsndreams.com/Pages/Sexting_Statistics.html). Don’t let your children throw the “trust” issue up as a wall to keep you from being a parent. Trust is earned and does not release a parent from being responbsible for their child’s soul. If you are unable to read the messages, perhaps the following abbreviations will help: 

1174 —Nude club                                          A3 — Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime

143 — I love you                                            ASL — Age/Sex/Location

4Q — (Curse Word)                                       DYHAB — Do You Have A Boyfriend

8 — (a marital encounter)                               GAP — Got A Picture (of yourself)?

A/S/L/P — Age/Sex/Location/Picture            GNOC — Get Naked On Cam

IMEZRU — I Am Easy, Are You?

BYOB — Bring Your Own Bottle (or Bring Your Own Beer)

(For a more complete list, just Google “text abbreviations” and click the websites carefully).

4. Set an age limit. We are giving our children too much, too soon. With rare exceptions, children and pre-teens don’t need cell phones.

5. Make sure your child’s phone does not have a camera. I am not accusing every teen of “sexting,” but I know that it is a growing trend. Remember, your child may not be sending out sexually explicit texts and photos, but they may be receiving them without your knowledge. Over time, sin wears everyone down. Before long, they will not only be seeing it, they will be sending it.

The next time you hear his/her cell phone ring, perhaps it will serve to remind you who or what is possibly on the sending side of the message. No one is immune to these sins. A missionary in India, noted that citizens there may not have a house, food, or clothing, but they all have cell phones. This is a worldwide weapon of Satanic proportions. Parents, our children are dying while we have the cure. Get involved and get engaged!