A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words When Protecting Your Child from Sexting

The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health released by the University of Michigan today illustrates the growing concern that parents have with the issue of "sexting," a phenomenon of youth sending sexually explicit texts and images via cell phone. But new information suggests that along with monitoring your child's phone usage, a parent could also control sexting by blocking the ability to send photos via phone.

While many parents have placed limits related to time spent using cellphones, far fewer parents have instituted a mechanism for blocking images," says Davis, who is also associate professor of pediatrics and internal medicine in the U-M Medical School and associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Parents may not be aware of the various options for blocking inappropriate content or the potential risks of sexting.