WhatsApp Sexting: Risks, Warning Signs, and How to Protect Your Child

Nowadays, it seems that almost everyone using a cell phone is on WhatsApp, regardless of their age or other factors. The instant messaging platform has become even more conventional for communication than phone calls and SMS.

With many children and young adults using the platform, it has quickly become an avenue for them to indulge in activities like WhatsApp sexting away from the restrictions of parents or other authority figures.

Because of this, a lot of guardians are worried nowadays about the risk of their children having inappropriate conversations or being exposed to sensitive content.

Part 1. What is WhatsApp Sexting

When we say sexting, we refer to sending and receiving sexually explicit messages, pictures, videos, and other forms of media through a mobile device. Over the last few years, sexting has become common among children and has made parents, guardians, and child protection organizations concerned.

Because WhatsApp is the most popular texting social platform, it has also become a major hub for sexting among minors. Children and teenagers are being reported to increasingly use the platform to share sexual-themed messages, and pornographic content including nude images and videos of themselves. This has been made possible, especially with the platform’s new “View Once” feature.

Part 2. The Risks of WhatsApp Sexting to Kids

Sexting on WhatsApp poses many dangers to the mental and emotional well-being of children. This is why it must be treated as a serious issue by all relevant parties.

Although WhatsApp possesses end-to-end encryption for chat safety, conversations are not 100 percent safe on the platform. Definitely not sexual conversations with teenagers. Not only is WhatsApp not immune to outside hacks, but the receivers of these “sexts” can also do anything with them including sharing with the world.

The consequences that can arise from WhatsApp sexting can have long-lasting negative psychological, emotional, and social effects on children and young adults.

There is a huge risk that people who have another person’s “nudes” may use them as leverage for blackmail. They can be blackmailed and harassed for money, and sensitive information. Worse, they can be made to carry out illegal activities. Those shared sexually explicit content can also be shared to the wider internet in no time at all, leaving the owner with a damaging digital footprint.

Part 3. 3 Warning Signs Your Child Might Be Involved in WhatsApp Sexting

It is possible to notice the signs that your child might be involved in WhatsApp sexting and particularly important to do so to ensure their online safety and well-being. As a parent, if you observe these signs about your child, you might need to be concerned about your child’s online activities.

• Noticeable behavioral changes

If your child is exhibiting sudden strange emotional or behavioral changes, such as anger, withdrawal, or depression, it could be a result of emotional stress caused by sexting. The consequences of sexting like fear and embarrassment can cause children to act out or become reclusive, depending on the situation. So, parents should always be cautious about the mental and emotional well-being of their children online.

• High level of secrecy about their phones

If the security around your children’s phones can be likened to that of a bank vault, then there is a good chance that they are hiding something from you. Children may use different software packages to hide their messaging apps from an initial check of the phone. They may also restrict access to their WhatsApp application using an app lock. This type of security implies that there is some content they do not want you to know about, and which a parent should be very concerned about.

• Sudden increase in data usage

If your child’s data usage numbers suddenly rise without an obvious reason, it could be worth looking into. A spike in data consumption could mean that your child is performing a lot of data-draining activities, like sharing images or videos through WhatsApp, at a very high rate.

Part 4. Best Way to Protect Your Kid from the WhatsApp Sexting-Using Parental Control App

Parents who desire to protect their children from sexting on WhatsApp can do so through different means. But the best way is with the aid of an effective monitoring app like Msafely.

4.1. What is Msafely

Msafely is a reliable parental control software. It allows its users to monitor everything they want to know on the target phone.

Parents who use Msafely can check the type of conversations that their children are having on WhatsApp and the type of people they are relating with.

Parents can check the media that their kids share and receive. All these can be done for both Android and iOS devices.

4.2. Key features of Msafely

Msafely can be used remotely without alerting the user of the target device. It contains a stealth feature that keeps it fairly hidden and unnoticed on the target device. Its tracking operation also works in real-time, which allows you to know about the chats early so you can stay ahead and make informed decisions.

4.3. What phone activities can Msafely monitor

Other than WhatsApp, Msafely can be used to monitor other messaging apps like Snapchat and the SMS app. It can also monitor the phone calls made and received on the phone. It can also take a look at the photos and videos on the phone, as well as check the contents backed up on the phone’s drive. It can go through browser activity and also work on multiple apps on the target device.

The table lists all phone activities that Msafely can monitor.

4.4. Steps to protect your kids from the WhatsApp texting

Step 1. Register a Msafely account with a valid email.

Step 2. Pick the type of device you want to connect to, whether iPhone or Android.

Step 3. Go to your Msafely Control Panel to start tracking the target device.

Part 5. What Should You Do If You Find out Your Child is Involved in WhatsApp sexting

• Have an open discussion with them

If your child has been involved in WhatsApp sexting and possibly experienced some of the negative consequences, it is important to let them know that you are there for them. Do not condemn the child, instead try to find out their situation and how you can help them fix it.

• Give guidelines on how to safely use social media onward

If your child has been involved in WhatsApp sexting, you should be ready to educate them on the proper use of the social media app. You should also warn them about the type of characters to avoid on the app. In addition, encourage your child to report any suspicious contacts acting inappropriately immediately.

• Help your child fight against any form of blackmail or cyberbullying

If your child’s sexting activities on WhatsApp have resulted in being blackmailed or threatened with the exposure of their nude content, it is important to report such to the appropriate authorities. As a parent, you should take every legal action to protect your child and ensure their well-being.

• Use parental control measures on your child’s WhatsApp

To help your child move forward, you should use WhatsApp’s privacy features to monitor some activities on your child’s profile. You can also report and block some users on the platform. Monitoring apps like Msafely can also be useful.

Part 6. FAQs about WhatsApp Sexting

Q1. How can I know if my child is sexting on WhatsApp?

Pay attention to any signs that might indicate it in their behavior like anxiety, secrecy, and stress. You can also use a WhatsApp monitoring app like Msafely to spy on their account and find out what they are doing on the app.

Q2. What to do if your child is sending inappropriate texts?

Be clear on why it is the wrong thing to do. Make sure to help your child understand the damaging consequences that could arise from it. Help them on how to use the digital space appropriately.

Q3. What age do kids start sexting?

It can be surprising to parents that kids as young as 12 years are sexting on WhatsApp and other platforms. From that age into their teenage years, they need to be properly monitored and guided.

Q4. How can sexting affect children?

Being exposed to sexual content and sharing it, especially at a very young age, can negatively impact children emotionally and mentally. It can create unhealthy obsessions and affect their real-life interactions.

Q5. How can I make my child safe on WhatsApp?

Know how to use the WhatsApp privacy settings to control who can see your child's profile, prevent them from being added to random groups, and block them. Importantly, report other users of the app or inappropriate content.

Part 7. Conclusion

The issue of WhatsApp sexting among kids has gained more attention because of the danger it poses. It is a highly unhealthy online activity for kids as it can have negative effects on them mentally and emotionally.

Hence, parents need to be proactive in protecting their children by setting clear boundaries on how they use WhatsApp, teaching them about the risks attached to sexting, and guarding their online presence through safety features and monitoring tools like Msafely.