Sexting; far more serious than you think

Jo Ann Oravec raises very important questions regarding the weird modern propensity for sexting; she attempts to explain and condemn the ethics of sexting. Sexting is far more serious than the general populace may agree; it represents the liberation of human instincts, especially on the male side. In simple, sexting is a mechanism that seeks to circumvent the limits placed upon human sexual expression; it was used as a form of shortcut. When a man decides to sext to another person, he is seeking an alternative form of sexual communication that wasn't possible in the traditional world. With the availability of SMS texting technologies, It became entirely feasible to pursue virtual relationships, and to an extent sexting represents the furthest virtual extent of these virtual relationships. When a teenager is able to justify sexting, it unfortunately also enables other behaviors that can result in a poor development of decision making skills. Coupling with the inherent problem of protecting confidentiality in sexting cases, when another teenager decides to spread the image, it creates problems for the original teenager because it destroys their naive perception of trust and friendship. In this case, they might start to sext more because it doesn't have the emotional baggage that comes with the spread of rumors amongst friends; instead if a stranger spreads it, it shouldn't affect the person too much.

Sexting isn't merely limited to the teenage populace however; it also an alternative channel for possible cases of adultery. The virtual nature of sexting means that by definition, no physical contact was initiated between either parties, creating a form of loophole that makes it easy for an adulterer to justify it. Because sexting can lead to increasing levels of eroticism and desire, it can be a catalyst for breaking marriages and relationships. It is also possible that the generation of teenagers who grow up sexting can eventually settle into an adult relationship where they continue to practice such debauchery. Such actions show the degradation of society and morals but at the same time serve to illustrate the sexting releases those base impulses. In this regard, I agree with Jo Ann Oravec's interpretation of the dangers of sexting. It is something that must be taken seriously, as also because the receiving party is usually innocent and seeing such material is considered a form of sexual harassment.