Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
MTV special contains important info for teens/parents.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
SEXTING IN AMERICA: WHEN PRIVATES GO PUBLIC is an MTV News special dedicated to defining the term sexting, and highlighting the potential dangers people face when doing it. Hosted by former America's Next Top Model contestant Kim Stolz, the program combines interviews with media experts, lawyers, and young people who have faced serious emotional and legal consequences as a result of requesting and/or sending sexually explicit images via computer and/or cell phone. It also shares statistics recently drawn from an MTV study on digital abuse, and offers some limited advice about what to do if faced with a sexting situation.
Is It Any Good?
The series offers some surprising and alarming information about the sexting phenomena, which has become a growing problem throughout the United States. It attempts to appeal to young viewers by featuring excerpts from music videos featuring singers like R. Kelly and Beyoncé, TV shows like Degrassi and 90210, and the film American Pie. Although it discusses sex scandals surrounding celebs like Pete Wentz and Rihanna, it still succeeds at discussing sexting without being salacious. It also underscores the idea that anyone, no matter how rich and/or famous, can be harmed by this behavior.
Because of the show's 30-minute length, it only manages to scratch the surface of what has become a disturbing trend among young people today. But the information it does contain is worth listening to. Overall, it gives an informative, but serious warning to kids and their parents about the dangerous and devastating consequences sexting can have on their lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexting and the consequences of doing it. If you are ever sexted, or pressured to sext, what should you do? Where can people go for help for this sort of thing? Aside from the embarrassment and the legal implications, what other kinds of impact can sexting have on a person? Will it affect someone's abiity to get into college or find a job? How? Parents: Check out our Common Sense advice about talking to your kids about about sexting and responsible text messaging.
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 14, 2010
- Cast : Kim Stolz
- Network : MTV
- Genre : Educational
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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