Grays 1

Ajami Grays
Professor Sipin
16 October 2014
American Culture
There is no doubt that text messaging provides a fast and speedy response of
communication, yet adolescent safety and protection in the fast pace world is equally important.
The invention of the cell phone has brought many advantages to the world. Although the cell
phone has brought its advantages to American culture, it may also have contributed to an
increase in risky behavior of adolescents. As Abigail M. Judge states, The cell phone is one of
many electronic technologies that adolescents in the United States use regularly to express
emotional experience and navigate developmental demands. (Judge1) She mentions that
electronic devices (cell phones) are used quite regularly by adolescents to express themselves in
any way necessary. While Abigail is correct about cell phones being a way to express peoples
demands, cell phones are also a dangerous mechanism for adolescents. Joanna Lampe quotes
Unfortunately, teenage users are not always prepared to use technology responsibly. Teenagers
exploring new technological frontiers often lack firm guidance from parents and educators, who
may not fully understand the new technologies or their attendant risks.(Lampe1) She states here
that although people are putting these cell phones into the hands of adolescents, they dont
always quite understand what to do with it and what consequences can happen if they use it the
wrong way. While electronics are high speed and up-to-date, young teens are also catching up
with these adrenaline filled boxes that can possible destroy an adolescents life more than they
could imagine. Many teens and adolescents have experienced some sort of sexually explicit
message or have sent one during their years of having a cell phone. While this form of

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technology is relevant to many peoples daily lives, adults and guardians should consider the
dangers they are giving to their teens and educate and aware them of the power behind these
devices. While not all adolescents are using their cell phones in a dangerous form, it is better to
make them aware and educate them of the seriousness behind the ways they use a phone and
help them learn the importance of themselves and their safety. Cell phones are a quick way to
send pictures, text, or videos to people and quickly capture their attention.
The social media has been giving wrongful views as to why teenagers sext. Sexting is the
act of sending sexually explicit materials through mobile phones, these messages may be text,
photo, or video. Many people in todays society believe that teenagers are hormonal and sexual
beings. The American Psychological Association has reported evidence for the sexualization of
girls in our society in which their value comes from their sexual appeal.(Dake3) This quote
states that girls feel that they can use their body to capture the attention of a male/female
counterpoint through sexual appeal. In the video Degrassi: Shoot to Thrill people can see that
the young girl feels pressured into taking pictures to win over her boyfriends attention. Nearly
70% of teen boys and girls who sext do so with their girlfriend or boyfriend. (Bowker, M.A.,
Art and Micheal Sulilvan, J.D (FBI)) This statistic goes to show that girls and guys are dealing
with acceptance issues. Children go through many mental strains that affect who they become.
They are constantly longing for love and attention no matter where it comes from or how they
get it. 11% of teen girls ages 13 to 16 have been involved with sending or receiving sexually
explicit messages. (Bowker, M.A., Art and Micheal Sulilvan, J.D (FBI)) This statistic shows
that children that have cell phones at any age are in danger of receiving sexts. This can emotional
harm younger children and their developments. Text messaging is the new, fast, high technology

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that can get people communicating back and forth. Not only do these messages send fast, but one
can never delete the mistake.
The context of adolescents not understanding their self-worth is within the article
Consensual sexting among adolescents: Risk prevention through abstinence education or safer
sexting and goes on to tell how adolescents get caught in the moment and their initial feelings
about sexting. Dring quotes Sexual emotion can be helpful in dealing with insecurity and
shyness.(Dring4) This quote is on the emotions that adolescents feel they need to overcome,
which leads up to a reason of why they pick up sexting with someone they trust. Although they
think they can confide in this person they trust, they dont know what the other person is doing
with their phone. Text messaging has had so many influences on adolescent society then what is
called for. Cell phones were made to network and communicate, but now are used for risky
behavior. Its come to society thinking that this type of use on a cell phone is normal. Society
now points fingers at teens and call them hormonal and sexual, when the real underlying effect is
that they only want to be heard. Many adults are so trapped behind their cell phone games, and
checking Facebook, that they arent listening or monitoring their children. When adults start to
pay more attention to their children and everyone puts down the cell phones, the world will see
the true negative effects that cell phones are having on their culture.
Text messaging has made huge impacts in American culture. Amongst society youth is
crying out to be heard and using texting as their outlet. Many adolescents arent looking for ways
to speak out and ask for the attention they deserve, instead they are hiding behind a cell phone
and texting others to confide and find love in. Once everyone sets the cell phones down and start
to talk to each other, the underlying truths will arise. American culture has drastically changed
since technology has come about and people have yet to see the effects its having on the youth.

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The youth is the future, America needs to look up from their cell phones, stop texting, and speak
to save the lives of children before its too late.

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Works Cited
Judge, Abigail M. "'Sexting' Among U.S. Adolescents: Psychological And Legal
Perspectives." Harvard Review Of Psychiatry (Taylor & Francis Ltd) 20.2 (2012): 8696. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 18 Oct. 2014.

Dring, Nicola. "Consensual Sexting Among Adolescents: Risk Prevention Through Abstinence
Education Or Safer Sexting?." Cyberpsychology 8.1 (2014): 1-18. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

Bowker, M.A., Art and Micheal Sulilvan, J.D (FBI). "Sexting: Risky Actions and Overactions".
April 2014. 14 April 2014.

Degrassi: Next Generation. "Shoot to Thrill." Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube, 26 Mar.
2010. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

Lampe, Joanna R. "A Victimless Sex Crime: The Case For Decriminalizing Consensual Teen
Sexting." University Of Michigan Journal Of Law Reform 46.2 (2013): 703-736. Academic
Search Complete. Web. 23 Oct. 2014

Dake, Joseph A.1, jdake@utnet.utoledo.edu, et al. "Prevalence And Correlates Of Sexting

Behavior In Adolescents." American Journal Of Sexuality Education 7.1 (2012): 1-15. Education
Source. Web. 23 Oct. 2014