Why Parents Need to Talk to Their Teen About Sexting: Risks and How to Start

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Parents need to talk to their teens about sexting because the consequences can be severe—including legal charges, emotional harm, and a permanent digital footprint. This article explains why these conversations are essential and offers practical advice for parents in Ontario.

In last month’s blog article, we discussed how many teens are really sending sext messages and why. This month, we dig deeper into why it is important for parents to talk about sexting with their teens—and how to do it effectively.

Why Talking to Teens About Sexting Feels So Hard

Talking to teenagers can be rather difficult for parents to do successfully. It can feel awkward talking to your teenaged son or daughter about sex, drugs, and other such uncomfortable topics. Now, parents also have to worry about covering the basics of sexting too.

Even though you sit your teen down and say what you have to say, do they really hear you? Some parents rush through various sensitive topics just to get it done and over with. They pat themselves on the back, but fail to realize their teen sat there and tuned them out the entire time. A good indication of this is when your teen says, “Are we done yet?” This lets you know they are not paying attention or listening.

So what is a parent supposed to do to make sure their teen hears them loud and clear about sexting, without yelling at them? Talk to them—and talk to them some more. As uncomfortable or scary as this might sound, you need to get through to them that sexting has consequences that can ruin their life.

The Long-Term Consequences Teens Don’t Think About

Teens don’t think about the long-term consequences of sexting. Your teen may not realize that sending and posting partially-naked and fully naked pictures of themselves is actually considered child pornography under Canadian law. In addition, if your teen is 18 and sexting with someone under the age of 18, they could be considered a pedophile under our legal system.

Furthermore, once your teen sends or posts a picture, it is out there forever. If the person they sent it to didn’t want it, or if the relationship ends, the picture could end up being circulated around at their school. This can have a direct impact on their self-esteem.

Additionally, if the police and Crown get involved, and your teen is charged, convicted, and found guilty of a sexual-based crime, they could find themselves having to register for the national sexual offenders’ registry. By discussing the consequences of sexting with your teen, it can make talking about the topic easier for parents.

Practical Steps for Parents

Parents should also not be afraid to establish some ground rules about smartphone usage. You have rules about when they can drive, what time they need to be home, and so on. You should also have rules about smartphone usage and your right to access the content on the phone at any time.

You can also talk to your provider about enabling teen controls so you are notified anytime they take a picture and see what it is, as well as other access without having to pick up the actual phone. If your teen is sexting and won’t stop, take away the phone. They won’t die if they don’t have a phone. Plus, you just might save them from making the biggest mistake of their life.

How Bayridge Counselling Centres Can Help

For more parenting advice on how to talk to your teen about sexting or other sensitive subjects, please feel free to contact Bayridge Counselling Centres at 905-319-1488 today. Our registered psychotherapists and social workers across Ontario can help you navigate these difficult conversations and support your family’s mental health.

Clinically reviewed by Steve Wilding, RP