Summary: This level two episode is all about sexting - perfect for families with teenagers, or anyone with unsupervised access to a phone or computer. I touch on legality, coercion, and risk reduction. Let’s talk about nudes: Are the following things legal or illegal? -Asking a minor for nudes -Taking nudes of a minor -A minor taking nude selfies -A minor sending nudes to someone -Forwarding nudes of a minor -Sharing nudes of a minor -Possessing nudes of a minor Every single thing I listed is illegal in most states here in the US. Some states have Romeo and Juliet clauses for people who are close in age and near the age of consent. Make sure to check the laws of consent where you live. Adults usually say only one thing about sending nudes: Don't do it. However, that leaves out a lot of other important messages, starting with the age of consent. The age of consent is 17 or 18 in Illinois, which means underage sex is both illegal and high risk. This is true for both face to face sex AND digital sex. Digital sex with a minor, which includes asking for, taking, possessing, and distributing nudes, is illegal in Illinois for people below the age of 18 in Illinois, and most places in the US. "Don't send nudes" is not the most important message because asking a minor for nudes is just as illegal. Some young people participate in sexting because of pressure or coercion, so we have to talk about that, too. But, how? We acknowledge sexting is a common part of modern relationships, but is still a choice: no one has to participate if they don't want to and there can be long-term consequences for those that do. It also has to be consensual. We also need to be honest about legality of participating underage and have a frank discussion of family expectations around sexting, taking the law into account. If young people have already participated in these activities underage, not knowing it's illegal, check out this article: hellogiggles.com/news/if-someone-shares-your-sext/ and my website www.teaandintimacy.com/home for help. We end with conversation starters: If a friend was being bullied or pressured into sexting, what advice would you give them? How would you help? and If sexting is such a common part of modern relationships, but remains illegal for most young people, what are your family's expectations? Thanks for listening today, see you next time and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Become a Patron for only a few dollars each month to book a private coaching session at www.patreon.com/sexpositiveparent
