Advice on how to start a conversation about the issue of sexting with your child
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Have an age-appropriate conversation with your child about sexting as they become more independent online – particularly around the time when they start having romantic relationships.
Encourage your child to think critically about what they share and the impact it could have if it was shared with the wrong people. Remind them that once an image has been sent, there is no way to get it back, nor of knowing where it will end up.
Talk about the effects of peer pressure and help them understand that the results of giving into it can be much worse than standing up to it.
Talk to your child about having some responses ready if they are asked to send an explicit image.
The time to talk about sexting with your child is as soon as they start using the internet or get a mobile phone.
Explain what can happen to an image
Remind your child that once an image has been sent, there’s no way of getting it back or knowing where it will end up. Ask them to think before they send a picture of themselves: ‘would I want my family, teachers or future employers to see it?’
Be prepared
Talk to your child about having some responses ready if they are asked to send explicit images. ChildLine has created a free app which has witty images to send in reply plus advice on how to stay safe.
Tackle peer pressure
Show you understand how they may feel pushed into sending something even though they know it isn’t the right thing to do. Help them to understand that the results of giving in to pressure could be much worse than standing up to it.
Here are are few tips on the type of conversations you can have with your child to help them understand what sexting is and the impact it can have on them and others.
Focus on 'what if' situations
Explore how they would deal with such a situation and whether it would be something that they’d consider doing
Do you know people that have done it – did anything happen – did it go wrong?
Do they do it to flirt or for fun?
Would you ever send nudes?
Healthy relationships
If appropriate, discuss what a healthy loving sexual relationship should look like so they are aware of what to look out for if they are pressured into sexting. Use this video from Amaze.org as a conversation starter to get them thinking about it.
Have open and honest discussions
Make sure they know that they can come to you to share their concerns and get support without judgement.
