Telegram Sexting: Risks and How to Protect Teens

Sexting is an act of sending or receiving explicit text, images, and videos on social media and other messaging platforms. It isn't new. Studies show that nearly 15% of teens have sent explicit messages, while more than 27% have received sexts.

While sexting can happen on any online platform, it seems to be more prevalent on Telegram because of its privacy features. These features attract teens, but they also make it harder for parents to know what's going on.

So, if you're concerned, I'll teach you how to protect your child from Telegram sexting in this blog.

Why Telegram Can Be Used for Sexting?

Teens are turning to Telegram for sexting for several reasons. Some of them include:

1Huge Community

With around 1 billion users, Telegram is the most popular messaging app after WhatsApp. Its huge audience and diverse communities make it easy for anyone — including teens — to find people for sexting.

2Privacy Features

There is nothing people who engage in sexting love more than privacy.

Even though Telegram does not specifically design features for sexting purposes, with available options like secret chats, disappearing messages, and phone number hiding, teens may feel Telegram is a "safe zone" for sharing explicit content.

3High-quality Media Sharing

Telegram allows users to send images or videos without compression in high-definition format (SD format) or in 1080p HD. This makes sexting clearer than ever before. After all, the beauty of a sext lies in the crispness of the images and videos.

4Easy to Find Sexting Groups/Channels

It is easier to find sexting groups or channels on Telegram than anything else. Simply typing "Sexting" in the search box, hundreds of sexting groups and channels will pop up. And Google also provides numerous sources for sexting groups or channels.

Risks of Sexting on Telegram

Let's face it - the risk that comes with sexting far outweighs any fun associated with it. Some risks of sexting on Telegram include:

Privacy Loss

Despite the wide range of privacy features on Telegram, people can still find a way to bypass them. For example, someone can easily take a picture of a nude image you sent as a view-once message with another phone. And once this happens, your image can be shared publicly.

Legal Issues

In case you don't know, it is a crime to share child sexual abuse materials in many jurisdictions. For instance, in the UK, under the Protection of Children Act 1978, it is illegal to make, distribute, possess, or show any indecent images of someone under 18.

This is seen in the case of George Jimenez - a man who was jailed for distributing indecent images of children on Telegram.

Regrets & Emotional Health

Studies have also revealed that 58% of people who shared sexts said they later regretted sending it.

Source: ESET research

Sexting is a permanent action. Once a sext is sent, it is difficult to take it back. Moreover, you cannot control how your private images will be shared afterwards.

Once those photos or videos end up being exposed, the emotional impact can be devastating. And someone may be depressed and even start considering suicide to avoid the shame and harassment that come with leaking it.

Sexting Scams and Blackmail

Sexting scams, which are also known as sextortion, are another serious risk of Telegram sexting. In this scam, scammers pretend to be interested in a romantic relationship with someone and then trick victims into sending their nudes.

Once the victim sends the nude, they begin to blackmail them and start demanding money in exchange for not leaking the sext.

Signs Your Child Might Be Involved in Telegram Sexting

Now that you know the risks of sexting on Telegram, the next step is to stay alert to warning signs. In all honesty, there is no direct method to know if your child is engaging in sexting. However, there are some signs you can use to determine that. Here is a quick checklist:

Unusual Secrecy or Defensiveness

One thing sexting participants don't joke with is privacy. So, if your children started tilting the screen away every time you walk by, it could be a red flag that they are doing something secretly.

Increased Use of Telegram

Sexting is as addictive as pornography. It can also create this sense of excitement and make people who engage in it always want to be more active online than usual. So, if you notice that the time your kids spend daily on Telegram has increased drastically, chances are that they're engaging in sexting.

🤔But then, how do you determine how long your kid spends on Telegram daily? Well, that's where AirDroid Telegram Monitor comes in! It can not only track a child's app usage but also notify you of your child's sexting chats (after setting up some sext-related keywords).

Physical or Emotional Signs

There are some physical and emotional signs you can use to determine if your child is involved in sexting. For instance, if your kid constantly checks their phone or jumps whenever they get a notification, it could be a sign.

Besides, if you notice your child's mood swings easily after using their phone, that's a strong indication that they're dealing with stress that often comes with explicit content sharing.

How to Protect Your Teens from Telegram Sexting

If you want to protect your child from Telegram sexting, follow the tips below.

Talk about Dangers of Sexting

Let your kids know that engaging in sexting could expose them to sextortion, harassment, emotional imbalance, and other dangerous consequences you could think of. If possible, share some real-life stories of different people who have fallen victim to sexting scams and how they ended up.

Use Parental Control Tools

You can also leverage parental control tools to spot potential risks of Telegram sexting and prevent them timely. Among them, AirDroid Telegram Monitor remains the best.

With it, you can know what your child is doing on Telegram and get alerts when they receive or type explicit messages. But remember, not all parental control tools can do the job well.

Set Boundaries

You should also set clear boundaries around your child's online activity on Telegram. For example, you can enforce a rule that prohibits them from using their phone around midnight; advise them to report offensive behaviour on Telegram, etc.

Conclusion

Telegram sexting is a dangerous act, especially for minors. When your kids engage in it, they can be exposed to several harmful dangers, including sextortion, harassment, bullying, and even cause psychological trauma.

To protect your kids from sexting, you'd better talk with them about sexting, set a clear boundary, and invest in hands-free parental control tools like AirDroid.

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