Twitter advice

[welshmum2113]

Hi, I've been lurking on here for a while but I was hoping for some advice please.
I have 3 DCs : DS1 20, DD 18 and and DS2 15 and I've tried my best to teach them about Internet safety and online footprints. I came across DS2 and DD's Twitter profiles earlier today and they have both been tweeting about sex, with DS2 posting explict pictures of his girlfriend of 6 months, and DD posting explicit photographs of herself with her new girlfriend (she's openly gay). I also saw on DD's page that she's been taking 'mcat,' how should I speak to her about that? I don't know how to handle any of this, but I'm worried about all of this in light of the teenage police commissioner girl being fired for posts on Twitter.
Thanks x

Oh dear, I feel for you I don't know the answer because I am in a very similar position to you and I don't know the answers to my own dilemma. Having tried to broach the subject of the content of DD's Twitter (she doesn't know I've seen it) she later posted something seriously hurtful and unrepeatable about me that I never thought in a million years she would write about me I've been reeling ever since. Damn Twitter Sorry, no help to you I know

If DS2's girlfriend is also under 16 and he has posted explicit pictures, then you need to talk to him urgently: he could be prosecuted under child pornography laws. The police take that kind of thing very seriously - even if she is OK with it, if her parents or anyone else reported it, your DS could find himself on the sex offenders register.

If DD's girlfriend is her age there is no legal problem, but explicit pics and talk of drug use of a public medium like twitter is very foolish in terms of employers/universities, so yes, you should talk to her too.

Any explicit photo of anyone under 18 (not 16) is illegal. Possessing such an image is an offence, and sharing it is another offence. As ex says, that tweet could get your DS prosecuted and on the sex offenders' register.

You definitely need to be concerned about your DD taking mcat (if she really has and this is not just a 'twitter boast'). Some kids manage to take it just occasionally and socially; but it is a very compulsive, nasty drug, and I know several teens, including my own DS, who have got into very serious trouble with it. Look it up on Frank. And I'm happy to answer questions if that'd be helpful.

they are both being total fools, and the older girl is especially so -she should be old enough to know better.

would they be happy to put posters up on their front door with this content? This is what they have done. Your son has also posted child pornography if the girlfriend is under 18. Does he listen to the news AT ALL?

Bedroom doors are there for a reason, because there are activities that should be done behind them.

tell them they are being stupid exhibitionists, and that your son (and possibly your daughter) is a child pornographer - that should wake him up. Are all teens happy to be unpaid porn stars, or does it just seem that way?

I won't even comment on the 'look at me, I take drugs' thing.