To Send or Not to Send: Weighing Up the ‘Upsides’ and ‘Downsides’ of Sexting

This practical exercise allows young people, alongside a parent or teacher, to weigh up some of the factors that might come into a decision to 'sext'. We have provided an example of how this exercise might play out and also a blank template which teens can fill in during conversation about sexting. Remember, without sensible and realistic chats, there is no barrier between teens and these impulsive decisions, which they may later regret. Hopefully, these conversations will help teens to realistically evaluate the risks, and see that, whilst there might be some upsides to sexting, the downsides can be serious.