More and more texting teens are becoming sexting teens. A new study finds sexting is more prevalent among teenagers and sexters are more likely to be sexually active.
University of Texas researchers studied the sexting habits of nearly 950 teenagers. They found 1 in 4 teens sent a nude picture of themselves through electronic means.
About half were asked to send a nude picture and about a third asked for a nude picture to be sent to them.
Researchers say sexters were also more likely to have been dating and to be sexually active than those who did not sext.
Experts say kids need to understand the potential consequences of sexting and parents are the first line of defense.
"Educating the parents so that they know and then leaving it up to the parents, as well as other providers: teachers, pediatricians, that sort of thing to educate the children as well," said Kate Eshleman, Psy.D. of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.
Complete findings for this study are in the journal "Archives Of Pediatrics And Adolescent Medicine."
