July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Virtual Sex: The Phenomena of “Sexting”:

By: Jordan Alper, Crossroads High School Student

High school senior Rebecca Jones has never kissed a boy. But she has had sex over text message.

Jones, who attends Notre Dame High School in Monterey, is one of many teens all over the country participating in “sexting,” the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos over the phone.

“I started talking to one person who I met on Facebook, and it just happened,” she said. “I feel really close with him physically and emotionally even though I have never met him.”

Jones only sexts through text and said she is uncomfortable with sending photos.

Sexting started with the introduction of Short Message Service text messaging in 2003, and has become more common every year according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Twenty percent of teens ages 13 to 19 say they have sent nude photos of themselves on their phones, according to a study from late 2008 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The same study showed that 39 percent of teens say they send sexually suggestive messages.

Robert Adanto, a middle school teacher at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, said he catches students text-messaging in his class almost daily.

“Every student should know about the dark reality of technology, and should know the stories of those who have suffered consequences for certain images or messages being made public,” Adanto said. According to Adanto, students from almost every Los Angeles private school have been suspended, expelled, or otherwise punished for sexting, especially with photos.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy’s study showed that 15 percent of teens who sent nude images of themselves did so to people they knew only online. Shuli Lotan, Coordinator of School Based Programs at Family Service Santa Monica, said she is worried teens are inviting dangerous situations by sending their photos to strangers, and that schools can play a part in preventing these situations.

“Having smaller group discussions could help talk to kids about the potential risks, but the reason a kid is doing it, whether it is because of insecurities, confusion or issues at home, should be addressed more than the punishment or consequences,” Lotan said.

However, high schools both public and private all over the country have recently held assemblies attempting to dissuade students from sexting. These schools have also changed their policies to cut down on sexting among their student body, said Susan Jay, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in Santa Monica. She said many of these changes limit what contact is acceptable between sexes.

Jay said schools are trying to protect themselves by being less tolerant of any sexual contact whatsoever.

“I don’t think schools should be as ridiculously restrictive as they are becoming by enforcing such intense punishments for this trend,” she said. “Sexting is a problem, but not allowing kids to interact and discover their who they are, both sexually and not, only makes them more likely to do it.”

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy’s study also showed that 22 percent of teens said they are personally more aggressive and forward when sexting than they are in real life. Jay said that this would prevent teens from developing socially and could make them more likely to have dysfunctional relationships in the future.

“Everything is much more sexualized now than it used to be. It makes young people jaded in terms of sexuality,” Jay said. “There is an over exposure and over stimulation. It is too much too soon.”

The sexting craze is accompanied by an increase in legal attention to it. Many cities, such as San Diego, have established entire teams within their police departments to monitor sexting, according to the Lead Council Corner website. These teams track text messages to find people who send or are sent explicit photos.

It is illegal to possess, distribute or manufacture pornography involving anyone less than 18 years of age, according to Lead Council Corner. Because of this, minors found distributing or possessing such images can be found guilty of child pornography, and can face up to ten years in prison.

James W. Spertus, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor in West Los Angeles, said sexting is not the conduct these laws were designed to prevent.

“Being on trial is a hardship that a teenager should never bear for something as silly as sexting,” he said. “I frown upon prosecutors who are applying old laws literally and creating nightmares for young people.”

There are two conflicting public policies and interests at war on the issue, said Claudia Ribet, a partner in the Barbakow & Ribet Law Firm in Beverly Hills. These are the First Amendment right to possess or repeat any written or other information, and the public policy to preserve the safety of minors, Ribbet said.

Sexting has not only sparked legal ramifications. Social scientists have also observed that the definition and structure of a relationship is changing.

“Sexting takes the personal intimacy out of relationships,” Lotan said. “It is rewiring the way our brains communicate with each other by making everyone in conversation all of the time.” Lotan said this rewiring causes a blurring in relationships of what is real and what is not.

Jones said sexting has not detracted from the realness of her relationship, and instead makes her feel closer with her partner.

“Sexting is what you make of it,” she said. “It’s just like any other new technology, relationships change with the times but they can always be special.”

in News
<>Related Posts

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Park: “Our Water Infrastructure Must Be Emergency-Ready Every Day”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Councilwoman expressed cautious relief at the news but emphasized the need for robust infrastructure The Los Angeles Department of Water...

Washington Square Pizza Opens to the Public

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

New York Style Pizza “By-The-Slice” Now at the Beach By Nick Antonicello  Washington Square Pizza formally opened its doors today...

California Allocates $5B for Road Repairs, Transit Expansion

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The funding aims to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and promote cleaner transportation California is investing nearly $5 billion...

THIS SUNDAY: Palisades Symphony Presents “Best of Broadway”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The performance will feature a full orchestra playing iconic selections, from John Philip Sousa’s *El Capitan* and George Gershwin’s *The...