It could be that even though teens claim to understand the possible negative consequences of so-called “sexting,” they don’t fully grasp the concept of the sexting pics post. Yes, they have been told of the possible consequences and have even seen the consequences play out in their lives of their favorite celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Vanessa Hudgens.
However, research has shown the teenage brain and the young adult brain is not fully developed. A part of the brain called the dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex is still developing through these years. The dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex is believed to be responsible for judgment and consideration of risk, so its lack of development in adolescents and young adults might lead them to make risky or poor decisions.
No wonder teenagers seem more willing to try dangerous or thoughtless behavior, such as racing down the street in their parents’ new car or sexting the cute boy in science class. Thus, all of those times that you threw your hands in the air and asked your teenager, “What were you thinking?!” the answer really might be that they weren’t, because their brain isn’t fully developed yet.
Don’t get me wrong; this doesn’t mean that teenagers aren’t highly intelligent or capable of complex thought. It just means that the “live and learn” theory might really be true in the case of adolescents. Until they suffer the consequences firsthand, or until their brains finish developing in their 20s, their judgment calls won’t always be the best.
Unfortunately, by the time these “sexting” teenagers live and learn, they might have irreparably damaged their reputation and their future.
When Roger gets to an intimate stage with a woman these days, it usually doesn’t take long until the sexy photos start. His dating partners either request that he send them a suggestive—or downright explicit—photo from his cell phone to theirs, or they just send one themselves, completely unsolicited.
“I’ll say, ‘You have an amazing body. You have amazing breasts,’” he reports. “The next thing you know, you’ll get a picture of a breast,” he says with a hearty laugh.
The Massachusetts resident has been enjoying the high-tech flirtation for years now, taking part in a trend the mainstream media has dubbed “sexting,” a play on the term “texting” (“sex” plus “text” equals “sext”). The term has made headlines recently, as teens continually get themselves in sticky situations with a form of high-speed communication that thrives on informality, spontaneity, and—for many young folks—bad judgment.
The catch is, Roger isn’t a teenager—or even a 20-something. He’s a 59-year-old divorcé, and, thanks to his cell phone and a slew of sassy ladies, his love life is more interesting than ever.
Shocked? Don’t be. More and more of the 50+ set, both single and married, are using text messaging to spice up their sex lives. Boomers, often sandwiched between teenagers, aging parents, and busy work schedules, are taking advantage of the new technology because it’s fast, easy, and fun.