Teens & the rise of the online ‘sexy selfie’

The average age kids begin consuming media is eight years old. And, five million users under the age of 10 have Facebook profiles. That means a lot of kids are exposed to content that might be otherwise meant for young adult or adult eyes.

One of the things your online youngster might regularly see are sexy-selfies of their friends or friends of friends. A “selfie” is a self portrait taken with your smartphone and shared online or via an app. A sexy-selfie is also a self portrait, but shows the individual in a sexually explicit, inappropriate or otherwise questionable pose or situation.

Even though girls are more likely to share a selfie, they’re shared by both boys and girls as young as 10–and, perhaps, even younger. That means beginning around the age eight, you should talk to your kids about selfies, because they will take and share them.

Whether you view them as art, communication or narcissism, selfies continue to grow in popularity among tweens and teens, and are shared via text, apps and social networks. More selfies are shared on Facebook than every other social network combined (not including SnapChat).

In case you don’t know the types of photos kids are sharing, here are some of the most popular sexy-selfies:

• The Bedtime Selfie – this includes revealing pajamas, or of a tween or teen in bed
• The Naked Torso Selfie –  though they are mostly seen from tween and teen boys, it features a boy without his shirt out, sometimes in a suggestive pose
• The I-just-got-out-of-the-shower Selfie –  a tween or teen will share a photo with them in a towel, sometimes standing in front of a mirror

When talking to your young child (between the ages of 8 and 14), let them know you are not saying they can’t share selfies, but only those which portray them in a way you both decide is appropriate.

Discussion points for your conversation:

• Talk about the future. Let kids know that what they share today maybe visible by colleges and employers of tomorrow.
• Create a list of the types of inappropriate photos. For example, photos in underwear or a swimming suit (depending on your comfort level). Don’t be afraid to get specific. It eliminates the future, “we never talked about that” conversation.
• Set expectations. If your child breaks your trust or violates the terms you set, then make sure they are aware of the consequences. This applies to all texts, messages sent via apps and on social networks.
• What works! Don’t only focus on the negative, but the positive. Talk about selfies your kid wants to share, like showing off a silly face or a photo of the day.
• Let them know you’re watching. It’s essential to monitor what your kids share online–especially if they’re using a social network younger than the age allowed in a network’s terms of service. Friend them on photo-sharing sites, like Instagram, so you can also see which pictures they favorite or like.
• Follow up. Talk to your kids about what they’re seeing from friends online. If they’re exposed to photos you’ve agreed on are inappropriate, consider having them remove those friends online.
• Get a parental network. Join forces with your young kid’s friends’ parents to keep selfies and other photos age-appropriate.

Did you catch your child or one of their friends sharing sexy-selfies?

Original Found Here: Teens & the rise of the online ‘sexy selfie’

MILEY CYRUS TWERKS, STUNS VMA’S CROWD

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 25: Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

The 20-year-old pop star stepped out onto the stage a ball of energy, wearing a fuzzy gray leotard, as her HIT single, “We Can’t Stop,” played. Cyrus took over the stage with gigantic; dancing bears and more twerking than viewers at home probably knew what to do with.

Now, I saw some Facebook friends commenting on Miley Cyrus VMA performance with shock and awe. My question is why? Does not the lyrics teach, “We can do what we want to?” Is this not the motto of many within the nations of the world? We hear the word of God, put it down and then do what we want to do.

I am not sure what the problem is. God himself said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).

We need these types of lines drawn. Let dark be fully dark and let light be fully light. Are you having sex with someone who is not your husband or wife, while paying tithes, expecting God to bless you? Complaining about Miley Cyrus? Really??

Twitter accounts full of girls and grown mother’s showing their body parts at the same time on their title talking about how much they love God. How Jesus is their Savior and Lord, but many are shocked at Miley? We need to clean ourselves up. We need to train our children right and leave the world alone. Homosexuals are making discrimination laws in a country that is supposed to be over 80% Christian? How can this be?

Miley Cyrus is doing what she sees older women doing and society is paying her huge sums of money to do it.

Florida school bus driver watches 3 black teens savagely beat 1 white teen

Viewer Discretion is Advised

This is sorrowful behavior that appears to be on the rise in our nation. Of course, violent behavior is not going anywhere and can be found in every aspect of life. We fight wars with other nations that lead to countless deaths and domestic violence is high, along with sport figure murders. What should be the response of the church?

The church pastors and people should take this as a wake up call concerning the sin in our nation and the preaching against such behavior. I am not sure about your church experience, but there appears to be an increase of church pastors preaching careful messages about Biblical Scriptures that don’t affect my life personally.  It almost seems, like the pastors are preaching from the position that every church member is living the separated life and just waiting for God’s blessings because of their faithfulness to his Word.

The children in their congregations are twerking and making posts on Facebook, YouTube, and twitter. Many parents are ignorant of this because of the lack of communication.  Parents are deceived if they believe their children have not seen porn, violent acts, and other horrific things on the Internet. Just because you said no internet (not smart), does not mean, they don’t receive access from children at school or in the neighborhood. 

I saw my first porn magazine, from a friend, whose father would hide them in the garage. I never told my parents.  My parents and the church I grew up in, talked about the importance of living righteously and I remember working hard to commit myself to living holy.  Of course, I fell multiple times, but because I had a constant stream of how I should live, I abstained from multiple sinful things, I could have gotten into as a teen.

Unfortunately, many black teens are the product of single mothers I have many in my family. Fortunately, I grew up with both parents in the home, my father was the head of the house and even the cat knew it. Our cat Candy would bring him the heads of rats that she would kill.  I saw my father love my mother and even though I was never taught anything about saving sex for marriage it seemed to be something automatic.  I knew I wanted one woman for the rest of my life. Living examples are the best.

This is where the family structures that are whole need to help and pastors need to preach about sin. I come to church to feel uncomfortable. I go to the gym to feel uncomfortable. Why? So when I leave church, I become better. So when I leave the gym, I am more cut up and stronger. The church members should be evangelizing and bringing people to church and the pastor should fillet. So that members who leave the church are mean, fit and fighting machines against the demonic powers we face and our children may be protected.

DON’T BLAME THE HOMOSEXUAL

Saints of God, what are we to expect from the world? For them to uplift a righteous standard of living? For them to care about the unborn and not themselves? For them to give credence to arguments concerning God’s commands or to be moved by apologetics? We are fools if we think this works. What drew many in the days of Jesus? Power! Stephens’s wisdom never changed the mind of the men in the synagogue; instead they lied on him and killed him. That is what wicked people do. In time they will do it in America.

Wisdom is only part of the key. We need power. Natural power and Supernatural power. If we begin to separate ourselves from the world and take our money and put it toward Godliness, then things will change. Money is natural power. We buy the devils food (drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets) and yet call ourselves Christians. We watch the devils movies. Oh I know, you don’t watch pornography, but instead you watch movies filled with sex outside of marriage and homosexual relationships on television and somehow wonder why your house is full of sin and growing worse and why your daughter is twerking as the boys at school shout. If you are unfamiliar with the term ask your teen.  Where should you spend your money? Acknowlege God in all your ways and he will direct your path, just be obedient.

We need supernatural power. This only comes when we are operating in perfect love. We can only operate in perfect love when we are operating in obedience. Obedience gives us the confidence to ask the Lord in faith believing that our prayer can heal the sick and raise the dead. We depend so much on science today because we are not yielding to God like we should. He does miracles today. We need this gift operating in more people.

The homosexual is not our problem. The problem is our attendance at the devils table. He sets a beautiful spread with delicious foods. A little adultery here, some premarital sex there, of course, getting drunk at home is ok, as long as you don’t go outside. Most of our meditation and conversation is ungodly and then we go to church and pretend. We have absolutely no power and have not heard a word from the Lord in months, some years. You may wonder how I know? I have seen your Facebook accounts.

I understand my Baptist brothers your limitation in the supernatural, but I assure you, when you cast off the things of this world, a supernatural power will arrest you regardless. Cast off pride and arrogance. Cast off pornography and listening to ungodly music and God’s power will arrive in a fresh way.

To them with ears to hear, Let them hear.

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