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A British anti-bullying group has issued a report on the new problem of ‘sexting’ among teenagers. ‘Sexting’ is the sending of naked photos via text and e-mail. The word is a combination of ‘sex’ and 'texting’. BeatBullying.com’s research reveals that over a third (38%) of under-18s have received a ‘sext’, a text with an image of someone naked. The pictures young boys and girls are sending each other would be viewed as pornographic by most people. Many of the photos are breaking child pornography laws. Emma–Jane Cross, head of BeatBullying, said: “It is important that parents and schools are aware that sexting is a significant issue amongst our children…so together we can act to stop this kind of behaviour.”

BeatBullying says sexting is increasing at an alarming rate. More and more young people are using it to bully others online. This often leads to tragedy. Many teenagers have committed suicide after bullies spread their private photos online. One case that made Americans aware of the problem was that of eighteen-year-old Jessica Logan. She sent a nude photo of herself to her boyfriend. After she broke up with him, he sent the picture to hundreds of teenagers in her hometown. Jessica’s friends said she felt like “she was being attacked and tortured”. Jessica ended her own life because of the pain she felt. BeatBullying says sexting “is one of the biggest threats facing our young people today online”.

www.breakingnewsenglish.com