Sexting – Do Parents Even Know About This?

Texting or Sexting – Do you Know What Your Kids are Doing?

Intercept SMS Text Messages

As texting from cell phones has become a focus in youth social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly concerned about the role of mobile phones in the sexual lives of young people. A recent research study from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (pewinternet.org/topics/Teens.aspx) concluded that four percent of cell-owning youths between the ages of 12-17 say they have transmitted sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via SMS text messages. This practice is typically referred to “sexting” in the current slang. Additionally, fifteen percent say they have received such images of someone they actually know by way of SMS. According to a study from marketing research firm The Nielsen Company (blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/under-aged-texting-usage-and-actual-cost/) American young people transmit an unimaginable average of ten text messages per hour that they are not in school or sleeping – and probably a lot during their classes too! By analyzing over than 40,000 monthly US mobile telecom bills, Nielsen found that American teenagers sent an average of an inconceivable 3,146 texts each month during the third quarter 2009.

SMS Text Monitoring

Their younger counterparts – tweenagers – from age 9 to 12 sent about 1,100 text messages each month. That that averages out to about four per hour they were in school or not sleeping. In comparison, the average number of monthly texts sent by all cellular users combined was a little more than 500. In the fourth quarter 2009, tweenage users ages 9-12 years old increased text usage by eight percent and almost doubled their text message volume.

Monitor SMS Text Messages

Focus group findings show that sexting happens usually under one of three different scenarios: The first, exchanges of images only between two romantic partners; the next, lists exchanges between partners that are then shared with other people; followed by, exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but with one person hoping there will be one. Teens were interviewed and gave researchers various explanations surrounding the motivation to participate in sexting. These included the researcher’s interpretation that “…sexually suggestive images had become a form of relationship currency,”; that sexting images “… are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity,” and that SMS text message sexting is a way of starting or maintaining a relationship. Sensitive images are also passed along to other people “… for their entertainment value, as a joke, or for fun.” Teens also shared with researchers the pressure they feel to share these types of pictures. Not surprisingly the report revealed that youths who are more intense users of mobile phones are more likely to receive inappropriate images. For these teens, the phone has become such a common means for communication and a variety of content that doing without it is unlikely.

Perfect Storm Sexting meets Parental Control

The desire for risk-taking and sexual exploration during the teen years mixed with constant connection using cell phones and other mobile devices “…creates a ‘perfect storm’ for sexting,” said Pew’s Amanda Lenhart. “Teenagers have always grappled with issues around sex and relationships, but their coming-of-age mistakes and transgressions have never been so easily transmitted and archived for others to see.”

The Teen SMS Market Will Continue to Expand

Despite the indications that per user usage has peaked (they can’t possibly use them more can they?!?) Nielsen estimates that overall SMS usage will increase as the heavy text messaging demographic ages and entices the older generations to text with them in order to stay in contact with them. Current SMS users are expected to continue to text extensively and as tweenagers become teenagers they are in all probability going to follow the trends of texting established by current teenagers. The average number of text messages per user has increased every year, and there is room for growth.

Mobile SMS Tracking Software

If you’ve got children then in all likelihood not surprised by the usage statistics. In all probability most parents don’t believe their teenagers are involved with sexting, or they are looking for ways to find out. While parents may be upset that all the texts their teens and tweens are sending are going to break the bank, Nielsen research indicates the average cost of a single text message is only about one penny. The real issue concerning parents is not so much how often teens use their phones but has more to do with how they use their phones, and when they are texting.

Parental Control Software for Mobile Phones

A workable technological solution available for parents and guardians to find out what what’s going on with their kids is spyphone software. An excellent source of information on spyphone software for Parental Control is SpyMobi Spy Phone.

SMS Monitoring Software

The sheer scale of spy phone software, and the need for it is demonstrated by the millions of searches on Google, Yahoo and Bing taking place every month. Common search terms for finding “How To” information on spyphone software to read SMS text messages, Call Logs and GPS Location include: How To Track a BlackBerry Phone, How To Detect Cell Phone Tap, How To Tap a Cell Phone, How To Intercept GSM, How To Listen Phone Calls, How To Listen To Mobile Phone Calls, How To Trace Cell Phone Calls, How To Intercept Mobile SMS, How To Intercept Calls, How To Tap Someone’s Cell Phone, How To Bug a BlackBerry, How To Bug a Cell Phone, How To Spy text messages, and How To Eavesdrop On Cell Phone.