Sexting - Be Careful of Studies

Sexting is a very real issue facing our teens today, and a means is needed to help teach our teens its dangers. 

The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) conducted a study in the UK on the subject with some interesting findings.

• The primary technology-related threat comes from peers, not 'stranger danger'
• Sexting is often coercive
• Girls are the most adversely affected
• Technology amplifies the problem by facilitating the objectification of girls
• Sexting reveals wider sexual pressures
• Ever younger children are affected
• Sexting practices are culturally specific
• More support and resources are vital to redress the gendered sexual pressures on young people.

On the surface this seems to be right on.  And in many cases, studies like this can provide us with great information.

But, beware of the twisting of a study's findings by authors with an agenda.  That agenda can alter the true message of the study, and take it to places that will only cloud the truly important thing, the protection of our children.

For example, Sally Broughton Micova wrote a blog on the report that strays from the reports findings.  But she lets out that she has a specific agenda early on when she writes, "We need to move away from a focus on ‘stranger danger’ and the abstract threat of pornography on the internet."  The first part matches the findings above, but the last part does not.  Labeling the threat of pornography on the Internet as "abstract" minimizes its danger to children.

She goes on to assert that, "We must find ways to encourage young people’s confidence and well-being about their physical bodies and sexuality."  This overlooks that youth engage in sexting because of an existing misplaced confidence about their physical bodies and sexuality.

The final piece of evidence comes with Ms. Micova's statement, "We need resources that offer practical and ethical ways to challenge and overturn the sexual double standard whilst empowering both girls and boys, considering the sexual health and pleasure of all young people as a right."

Clearly the two statements above do not come from the listed findings of the study.  The study by the NSPCC has resulted in some interesting findings, but establishing the "sexual health and pleasure of all young people as a right" was not one of them.

My point?  If a blogger or journalist tells you about a study, look for yourself, or at least be aware of possible bias.

The protection of children is too important to leave to other agendas.

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