Pupils at post primary schools across the North West are being warned of the dangers of 'sexting'.
A new initiative to highlight the dangers of sexting among young people is to be launched this month by a coalition of local agencies
Sexting - the sending or sharing of explicit photos or videos online - has been identified as a major risk for teenagers who are often the victims of cyber bullying or exploitation.
The Western Trust says sexting has very serious unforeseen consequences for teenagers.
“It’s not okay” is the message of a national and regional campaign about the dangers of sexting being run locally during Sexual Violence Week from 6 – 10th February.
The Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership and the Western Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnership, an umbrella group for local agencies working to tackle abuse, have come together to highlight the dangers of sexting using the tagline #itsnotokay.
School principals, teachers, parents, youth workers and others are being urged to raise the issue and provide support for young people who have been affected and to help raise awareness about the dangers of sending or sharing nude images or videos online.
Such sharing can turn into a nightmare for some young people who realise, too late, that they have no control over where their images can end up.
Images shared online can be viewed by large numbers of people very quickly and in some cases have been used to bully and blackmail.
Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership and the Western Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnership are asking principals in schools to invite young people in post primary schools to consider the question “Would you stand naked in front of the school assembly?”, as the danger of the level of exposure and its consequences for the individuals involved can be similar as a result of sexting.
The organisers of the #itsnotokay events and awareness raising campaign in the Derry Strabane area will be offering resources to schools and others working with young people which will include screen wipes which can attach to phones and will contain key messages and useful information to aid protection, prevention and support.
Schools and others working with young people are being asked to come forward to access help and support for any young person who is concerned about sexting and/or feels under pressure to send explicit photos.
Help will also be available to anyone who has had their image circulated on social media or may be concerned about someone else and is not sure how best to help.
For further information about the campaign events please contact Vanessa Russell at Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership by emailing vanessa.russell@derrystrabane.
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