Sue Scheff: Sex, tech and teens - What parents need to know

S-E-X, this is one of the most difficult and sensitive subjects parents dread to talk to their kids about, but it is also just as critical. Now let's compound it with technology and teens and we can create sexting!

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Cosmo Girl have recently released the results of a new survey. Results from this new survey show that 21% of teen girls and 18% of teen boys have sent/ posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves. What is going on with teens, tech, and sex?

Tips for parents from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy include:

1. Talk to your kids about what they are doing in cyberspace. Just as you need to talk openly and honestly with your kids about real life sex and relationships, you also want to discuss online and cell phone activity. Read more.

2. Know who your kids are communicating with. Of course it's a given that you want to know who your children are spending time with when they leave the house. Read more.

3. Consider limitations on electronic communication.The days of having to talk on the phone in the kitchen in front of the whole family are long gone, but you can still limit the time your kids spend online and on the phone. Read more.

4. Be aware of what your teens are posting publicly. Check out your teen's MySpace, Facebook and other public online profiles from time to time. This isn't snooping-this is information your kids are making public. Read more.

5. Set expectations. Make sure you are clear with your teen about what you consider appropriate "electronic" behavior. Read more.

More articles of interest:

Should you read your teen's diary?
Should you read your teen's emails and text messages?
Is honestly the best policy?
Not my kid
Nastygrams: Think before you send

Learn what teens need to know!

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

Sue Scheff: Talk to your teens about sex - 100,000 condoms distributed at the Olympics

Yes, it is true, a little fact that many are not aware of. The Vancouver Winter Olympics had 100,000 condoms handed out in the Olympic village.

The distribution of free condoms at the Olympics goes back at least to 1992 and Barcelona. In 2000, Sydney organizers thought that 70,000 would be enough. They were wrong and had to send out for 20,000 more. Beijing also ordered 100,000 condoms with an Olympic motto: Faster, higher, stronger.

The International Olympic Committee also gets credit for acting like a responsible parent: In addition to handing out condoms, they run HIV and AIDS information campaigns in the Olympic Village. And the U.S. Curling Association has gone a step further: In partnership with Kodiak Technology Group, they have introduced the Hurry Hard condom, named for a phrase curlers chant to get their teammates to sweep the ice faster. Proceeds from the prophylactics - which sport a happy cartoon curling stone on their label above the slogan "Be smart, stay safe" - are split between USA Curling and Monterey County AIDS prevention. - MSNBC

Whether people believe this is appropriate or not, or whether it is an appropriate spending of funds, at end of the day it is about being educated about having sex with strangers (or just having sex period). Famous or infamous, athletes or fans, you need to learn about safe sex.

This starts with parenting. Talk to your kids about sex education, sexually transmitted diseases, as well as answer any questions they may have. As difficult as this is for some parents, it will be much harder to have a daughter that is pregnant at 16 (or younger) or a child that contracts HPV or genital warts.

Talking doesn't seem so hard after all.


Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.

Learn more on Examiner.