There is a minefield of issues that can explode when teenagers are left to use electronic devices unsupervised, says a sexting expert.

Dr Tara Harris, who completed her doctoral studies in criminology at the University of Pretoria, with a special interest in gender differences in adolescent sexting, says teens can be confronted by several dangers online, some of them as serious as predators and human traffickers.

She says teenagers are extremely vulnerable online because of the developmental stage they are in.

“They are supposed to experiment with things. They are trying to forge their own identity. They move away from parental relationships and authority figures, such as teachers, because they require a new sense of belonging. So, they move more into the peer group space.”

She says teens who have suffered trauma or who battle anxiety and depression, sometimes find it hard to find a space in a physical social group and may turn more to the virtual world for interaction. There, their vulnerability makes them soft targets for predators and criminals.

Online communication has never been easier, and you don’t have the same type of risk of rejection, as you do in real life. Online, you can hide behind a screen, thanks to the anonymity the internet allows, says Harris.

“You can make up any profile you like; you can be whoever you want and nobody needs to know.

“On the other hand, the anonymity of the internet allows teenagers who are struggling, to be themselves and find a peer group that understands them. They are not forced into social situations in which they feel completely misunderstood and in which they have to act all the time.”

Tips for parents

Harris offers the following tips for parents on how to deal with the ever-evolving online world’s impact on their teenagers:

• Always keep the door of communication open. Let your kids know that you will not freak out if something has happened, but that you will try and support them.
• Assure your teenagers that they can talk to you so they don’t feel alone or think you don’t understand them.
• It is important that screen time is controlled. Teens cannot be on their phones all day, every day. There is a need for human interaction.
• Password protection on all devices is important.
• Turn on the device locator so that if their device goes missing, it can be tracked.
• It is important to check privacy settings on your child’s social media accounts.
• Never give your location in a social media post, because this information can be used by a stalker. If you, as a parent, check-in somewhere, they might know that your child is home alone.
• Don’t post photos of your kids in school uniform.
• Make it clear to your child that once they have posted something, such as a photo, on the internet, it will be there forever – even if it is deleted from their account. Once something is posted on the internet, it can never truly be deleted.
• Don’t check your child’s phone unless there is a significant reason to do so. This could damage your relationship. Teens are supposed to have secrets – but innocent secrets, such as who kissed who at a party. Cyber-bullying and other less innocent issues must be spoken about. Rather than snoop on their phones, have a direct conversation with your teenagers about such issues.
• If your teen is not speaking to you, see if they will speak to someone else, such as a family friend, pastor, or counsellor. You have to make it clear that they need to speak to somebody if adult intervention is needed.