Sexting: No LOL matter

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott took time to warn Texas teens and parents about the dangers of sexting Monday.

Abbott called sexting "dangerous" during the press conference he held at the

loveisrespect National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

headquarters off Bee Cave Road near Downtown Austin.

"We talk to a lot of teens who this is happening too and we like to make sure they know this is completely confidential and anonymous," said Megan Guilbeaux, a Helpline counselor.  "We're not going to tell other people about what's going on."

Peer-to-peer counselors are available night and day for teens and parents, both online and on the phone.

They said they're seeing more pressure than ever on victims to send explicit photos of themselves.

"We try to focus on the emotional aspect," Guilbeaux added.  "Their emotional and physical safety is really our main priority."

Guilbeaux said sexting is now considered an extension of dating violence. With the threat of embarrassment or implication, it gives the person in possession of the sexual pictures power.

"They'll threaten to show the pictures to your parents," Guilbeaux said.

A national survey found that nearly 20 percent of sexting recipients have passed explicit images on to a third person. 

It's just one of the reasons why  Abbott spoke out.

"If you take a picture of yourself revealing things sexually and send it to someone else, you need to understand the entire world may see that," Abbott cautioned.

Abbott also warned teens to be weary of anyone asking them to sext.

 "If someone is asking you to do sexting, you need to think about whether they really love you," Abbot added.

Parents were also targeted.

Abbott urged parents to be proactive by talking to their children and setting phone limits.

Parents were told they could also phone the call center or chat online with a counselor as well.

Teens and parents can call the confidential helpline at 866-331-9474 or visit www.loveisrespect.org to chat online.