Text Messages Give Teens Info on Sex

[CrimsonTide4]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...ve411onteensex



EXCERPT
Written in the abbreviated style of text messaging, SexInfo is open to anyone with cellphone text messaging. But it is aimed at sexually active 12- to 24-year-olds in San Francisco, especially blacks, whose rates of sexually transmitted diseases have increased in the past year, says Jacqueline McCright of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.


Kids, McCright says, "often do not get accurate information from their friends, and many times their parents don't discuss sexual issues with them. This is a way that they can get quick, easy information confidentially."


The service, based on a London program that launched in 2004, provides instant, automated responses to specific questions about pregnancy, HIV, sex and depression. Kids send a text message to 36617 (Metro PCS users use a different number) with the word "SexInfo." They are then sent a list of codes from which to choose.



Not a parent, but not sure how I feel about THIS one.

[DSTinguished1]

Not a parent either

I do feel that the parents should be the PRIMARY source about information regarding Sex and other issues.

However, I do realize that some teens are not going to talk to their parent or a family member therefore, they turn to other sources.

Hmm I not really sure how I feel about it, now that I think more about it.

[Miss. Mocha]

I am a parent, though my daughter is younger than the age group listed. Personally, I don't ask her for her permission when I give her "Life Tid Bits". I just give them to her. Repeatedly, knowing that whatever you hear repeated when eventually begin to sink in.

I would like to be the person who talks to my daughter about sexual subjects, but we're very open with one another. I guess if a parent isn't open with their child/ren, then at least accurate info is available.

[NoChaser3]

I think it's a great idea.

Kids who have a great, open relationship with their parents aren't the kids who are the focus of this type of program. If your child doesn't need it, then that's cool for you and your kid.

But this is for those kids whose parents won't talk to them about sex. Those kids who are getting misinformation from their friends. Those kids who think you can't get pregnant if you have sex standing up the first time. THESE are the kids who need this type of information readily and anonymously available.

When I was in high school, I was a Teen Advocate - I went to schools and talked to kids about sex. We'd also let the kids write down anonymous questions and then we'd answer them...some of the questions...phew! But because it was anonymous, and I was a teenager like them, kids weren't afraid to ask.

Anything that can help get information out there, I'm all for it.

[DSTRen13]

Originally posted by NoChaser3
I think it's a great idea.

Kids who have a great, open relationship with their parents aren't the kids who are the focus of this type of program. If your child doesn't need it, then that's cool for you and your kid.

But this is for those kids whose parents won't talk to them about sex. Those kids who are getting misinformation from their friends. Those kids who think you can't get pregnant if you have sex standing up the first time. THESE are the kids who need this type of information readily and anonymously available.

Second that. If I hadn't had parents who were good about this kind of thing, and who provided me access to good, accurate info on sex and sex-related things, I don't know what kind of stuff I might have come up with (I mean, the sex ed teachers in public schools aren't always the most informative people - especially when they're on an abstinence only agenda). I remember there were kids in middle school and high school with me who did some really crazy stuff ...

I just hope that kids really will use the text messaging service instead of just talking to their friends.

[Boom_Quack13]

Originally posted by NoChaser3
I think it's a great idea.

Kids who have a great, open relationship with their parents aren't the kids who are the focus of this type of program. If your child doesn't need it, then that's cool for you and your kid.

But this is for those kids whose parents won't talk to them about sex. Those kids who are getting misinformation from their friends. Those kids who think you can't get pregnant if you have sex standing up the first time. THESE are the kids who need this type of information readily and anonymously available.

When I was in high school, I was a Teen Advocate - I went to schools and talked to kids about sex. We'd also let the kids write down anonymous questions and then we'd answer them...some of the questions...phew! But because it was anonymous, and I was a teenager like them, kids weren't afraid to ask.

Anything that can help get information out there, I'm all for it.

Agree wholeheartedly!

[christiangirl]

Okay, so if this is for kids who don't have the most open relationship with their parents......what are they going to say when the cell phone bill arrives? If they don't converse well without the parents screaming about overages.......

Anyway, I think that it's unnecessary, but that's only based on my experience. My parents didn't talk to me about sex at all, but I wasn't interested in it, so I didn't need it. I really didn't learn about birth control and STIs until college. Since I have no interest in being sexually active till marriage (something my parents DID teach me) I turned out fine, though if I'd been a different type of person, had different experiences or values, etc., they could've set me up for a dangerous situation. I remember using my dad's computer to sneak onto puberty101.com, so I can attest to the use of technology being accurate with an anonymity that helps you feel comfortable.