Wednesday, February 3, 2010

MTV to explore "Sexting in America"

This Valentine’s Day, MTV will explore a new facet of youth culture with the MTV News Special, “Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public,” premiering Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 9pm ET/PT.

Part of “A THIN LINE,” MTV’s multi-year initiative to stop the spread of digital abuse, the 30 minute special examines how ‘sexting’ is impacting youth culture and relationships, the stakes involved – from legal to emotional – and how this trend is becoming a new frontier for teen dating abuse. Additionally, MTV today announced that All Time Low, Michelle Trachtenberg (“Gossip Girl,” “Mercy”), Boys Like Girls, and Asher Roth have joined in to help spread awareness about the thin line between digital use and digital abuse.

From top TV shows to hit songs, “Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public,” explores the recent emergence of ‘sexting’ in pop culture and looks at which celebrities have been caught hitting “send.” The special also takes an in-depth look at the pervasiveness and consequences of ‘sexting’ -- the act of sending or forwarding nude, sexually suggestive, or explicit pictures on your cell or online -- as MTV explores who is doing it, why teens and young adults hit “forward” instead of “delete,” and what happens when hitting “send” really isn’t the end.

Additionally, “Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public,” features young people talking openly about ‘sexting.’ Viewers meet Ally – the “good girl” in her high school who, at the age of 16, sent a nude photo to an ex-boyfriend after being pressured. Her reputation was destroyed overnight when the photo spread across the school and she quickly became the target of constant harassment.

MTV also looks at the laws around ‘sexting’, and tells the story of Phillip, who is fighting his status as a registered sex offender. After a heated argument with his girlfriend, Phillip forwarded nude photos of her to everyone in her address book. Because she was under 18, he was charged with child pornography and is slated to remain on the sex offender registry until he’s 43 years old.

“Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public” is part of MTV’s “A THIN LINE” campaign, which empowers America’s youth to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse. Michelle Trachtenberg and Asher Roth have signed on to host an interactive quiz that will launch next week on www.ATHINLINE.org, helping teens and young adults figure out if they’re asleep at the keyboard, on top of their game, or creating digital drama for others. Additionally, Boys Like Girls and All Time Low are helping MTV stop the spread of digital abuse through short digital clips that encourage young people to consider the thin line between virtual and reality, and words and wounds.

A recent study released by MTV and the Associated Press found that 3 in 10 young people have sent or received nude ‘sext’ messages, with over 60 percent of those who sent a nude photo reporting that they were pressured to do so at least once.

Additionally, the research found that those who have “sexted” are four times more likely to have considered suicide.

Over 75 percent of young people state that digital abuse is a serious problem for people their age. However, few consider the more serious consequences and risks of their behavior, with only 51 percent believing that their digital actions could come back to haunt them, and only 25 percent considering that these actions could have legal consequences.

For more information on “Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public” head to www.MTVNews.com, or for details on MTV’s “A THIN LINE” campaign or ways on how to get involved, please visit www.AThinLine.org or the campaign’s Facebook, MySpace or Twitter pages.

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