Any social media tool as common as WhatsApp may come with concealed threats for children despite its conveniences. Besides spreading inappropriate content, the high volume of sexting on WhatsApp comes with issues of cyberbullying, blackmail, and legal ramifications.
So, how can parents intercede to guarantee that their children are not exploited through WhatsApp sexting? In this piece, we’ll go through WhatsApp sexting, the dangers, common sexting slang, and solutions.
What is WhatsApp sexting?
WhatsApp sexting is the sharing of explicit or sexual content, either videos, pictures, or messages through the in-app text section.
Sexting often starts through flirting, and as people get used to each other, it develops into recipients requesting explicit images or videos.
While sexting mainly happens between individuals who know each other, it is also spreading among teens because of many factors.
1. Accessibility
Easy accessibility of WhatsApp and mobile devices can lead teens to engage in sexting without thinking about the consequences. Features of WhatsApp, like end-to-end encryption and disappearing messages, also give teens the illusion that it’s safe to share private information.
2. Flirting and fun
Most teens view sexting as a harmless activity. Additionally, many of them lack awareness of the risks that might come as a result of their actions.
3. Lack of parental supervision
Parents need to be more involved in their children’s social lives to avoid problems such as WhatsApp sexting. That’s a good way for parents to realize and recognize some suspicious signals or inappropriate behavior and make changes before they become worse.
What features make sexting common on WhatsApp?
While some WhatsApp features are designed for convenience and privacy, teens might use them for the wrong purpose, such as sexting.
1. Disappearing messages
Disappearing messages on WhatsApp means users can send messages that will disappear within 24 hours or 7 days. Teens see this as a venue for sexting since they’re assured that their private photo or video will disappear and the receiver won’t have access to it anymore.
2. End-to-end encryption private chat
While end-to-end encryption is designed to enhance WhatsApp security, teens often think that private chat would be 100% safe. However, screen recording, screenshot, and other tools allow people to store those messages before they disappear.
3. Group chats
WhatsApp group chat may become a private space for many people who share the same purpose. Group chats can accelerate the spread of inappropriate content and lead to serious consequences, like bullying in a group, abuse, and grooming.
4. Lack of in-built moderation
While WhatsApp is a great place to socialize and contact family and friends, it lacks a strong content filter and strict moderation that can be used to stop or regulate sexting. As a result of their minimal supervision, teens feel free to share obscene content.
The dangers of WhatsApp sexting to kids you should know
There are dangers associated with WhatsApp sexting that can cause legal, emotional, and physical impacts on kids. The worst part is that most of these dangers cannot be easily stopped once they have taken effect.
1. Reputation damage
Once your sexting images, videos, or messages get leaked, you’re prone to reputation damage. This can happen more so when more people get such images and distribute them online. This will undoubtedly cause serious stress as well as psychological problems.
2. Blackmail and sextortion
When you send your explicit content to the wrong person, they might use it for sextortion for their selfish gains. Sextortion is where someone with your intimate content threatens to share the content unless you do what they want. This can lead to dangerous, manipulative tactics and psychological pressure, which most teens cannot cope with.
3. Legal risks
It is a crime in certain states for teens to share or receive explicit videos, images, or messages, as it is considered child pornography.
As a result, anybody found to be associated with such matters might be charged with a felony and listed as a sexual offender on the registry. This will have a negative impact on the kids’ life at school and socially.
4. Porn addiction and distorted relationship
Early exposure to sexual content can have a significant impact on how young users view relationships, intimacy, and sex, increasing the risk of leading to pornography addiction and distorted relationship values. Pornographic texting can cause them to blur the line between healthy relationships and unrealistic depictions of intimacy in pornographic content. This gradual exposure can make them more likely to become addicted to pornography as they crave more explicit content and exploration for stimulation.
Warning signs your kids may be involved in sexting
There are signs that might tell you the truth.
- Frequently deleting messages
When you notice your kids are constantly deleting their WhatsApp messages, know that something is off. The only way to find out what they’re hiding is to try to recover deleted messages. That’s hardly possible.
A powerful parental control tool is what you need to help monitor kids‘ online chats and know why they’re acting suspiciously.
- Secretive device use
The easiest way to know if your teen is sexting is to check their phones. If you notice they’re secretive and overprotective about it, that’s a red flag you should be aware of.
If they’re hiding something, they’ll often hide their device when you walk in on them or close the screen when you’re close to them.
- Unexplained data usage
When your child is sexting, you’ll notice an unexplained amount of data used on certain apps, which could mean that they’re sharing or receiving files or videos.
Ensure you frequently check their data usage of specific apps like WhatsApp and then follow it up by checking the content just to be sure.
- Defensive about privacy
Even though it’s normal for your kid to want privacy, if they overdo it, it could be a sign that they’re hiding something.
If they’re doing something wrong, like sexting, they may become more over-reactive in their privacy. As a result, you need to monitor them closely to determine what’s going on.
Common sexting slang teens used on WhatsApp you should know
There are slangs that teens use that might sound innocent, but after you do a little bit of research, you’ll realize they mean something vulgar.
These are some of the slang that parents and teachers should pay much attention to:
- LMIRL (Let’s Meet In Real Life): involves meeting in real life with the intention of engaging in sexual activity.
- GNOC (Get Naked On Camera): This means that someone wants your explicit content or wants you to live stream your nudity.
- WTTP (Want To Trade Pictures): A request made for you and the recipient to exchange images.
- 53X: This is how teens write sex numerically to avoid censorship in certain apps.
- Netflix and Chill: It’s a call for a meeting for sexual activity and not Netflix.
- FWB (Friends With Benefits): This means you and the recipient can have casual sex without any commitment.
- Thirst Trap: This is for attention-seeking photos.
How can parents protect their kids from WhatsApp sexting?
When you find a way of avoiding such situations, you’ll help them avoid sextortion, bullying, and further hurts:
Stay informed about kids’ circle of friends and online behavior
Understanding your child’s interpersonal interactions and circle of friends is crucial for identifying early signs of potential dangers like sexting, bullying, or other risky behaviors. Moreover, peer pressure is a main force that can lead your child to engage in inappropriate activities. By knowing your child’s friends and the dynamics of their social groups, you can better understand the types of pressure they may face. Early detection allows parents to take proactive protection measures.
Block and report inappropriate contacts and groups
Go through your kid’s phone from the contact list to check for inappropriate texts or content. Teach them how to block and report anyone who shares explicit or suspicious messages. It is also important to learn and adjust the relevant privacy and security settings on WhatsApp, such as who can add you, who can contact you, disable location sharing, etc.
Open communications and education
Build trust between you and your kids and foster an environment for open dialogue so they feel more comfortable sharing their experiences, concerns, and mistakes. Educating them about the risks and consequences of sexting helps them understand the importance of consent and mutual respect in relationships and interactions. With clear, open discussions about responsible behavior, kids are more likely to make informed decisions and avoid engaging in risky online activities.
Monitor WhatsApp with FlashGet Kids
If you’re looking for the best solution that can help you detect and stop WhatsApp sexting, FlashGet Kids is the app you need. With open communication, children are made aware of the importance of parental control applications in ensuring their online safety. This transparency ensures that children understand these tools’ value and do not view them as an invasion of privacy.
FlashGet Kids has many working features, including app tracking, snapshot, and screen mirroring, which can assist you in getting access and seeing what they are doing on the device. Additionally, you can set screen time limits on when and where they can use social media apps like WhatsApp. That’s a big step to reduce potential risks and addiction.
Here is how to set it up:
- Download and install the FlashGet Kids app on your device from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
- Register a FlashGet account to get started.
- Download the version for kids by opening a browser on your kid’s device and entering flashget.kids.
- Access the FlashGet Kids parent account on your device, click on “Parents Device,” and then “Agree.”
- Tap on “Next” to get a 9-digit code that you’ll use to bind the app to your child’s app.
- After binding, access FlashGet Kids on your kid’s device and turn on the “Hide Icon.”
- From your dashboard, you can set up a set of parental control tools for monitoring your kids’ activities and tracking their movements.
Advice on responding if you confirm kid’s sexting
How you react when you find out your kid has been sexting will determine whether they’ll open up and listen to your advice or ignore you. Remember, overreacting, shouting, or shaming will not solve problems. There are tips for balance and making your kids understand the advice or lesson you’re trying to deliver better.
1. Stay calm
Anyhow, getting angry will not solve the problem and may lead to escalation of the conflict. Take a deep breath and give yourself time to ponder about what’s going on before any action.
2. Have an honest talk
After organizing your thoughts, have an open and serious talk with your child in a calm and measured tone. Don’t come across as judgemental. That’s the right time to ask generalized questions about why they sexted and what they were considering at the time.
It lets you figure out how and why they think the way they do, their emotions, and the pressure they may be under. Talk to your child about the dangers and consequences of sexting, but also give room for dialog in the conversation.
3. Seek professional help
If you feel bad or confused about how to deal with the situation, a counselor or therapist is in a better position to advise on such matters. A professional therapist will be able to point out the issues that might have led your kid to sexting and how you can counter them. They can help you and your child realize the effects of sexting and also give you a set of guidelines to build a healthy future for your kids.
Final takeaways
Sexting among teens is a serious topic that needs to be addressed quickly before they get exposed to sextortion and cyberbullying and suffer from mental health issues. Hopefully, with everything we’ve discussed and the solutions we offer, like seeking professional help or using parental controls, you can manage your kids better. If you need an extra hand, it’s recommended to use FlashGet Kids to help monitor your kids through remote access, screen mirroring, and keyword detection.
