SPECIAL REPORT: Sexting

Aiken, SC—It’s the hottest way of getting in touch…but what happens when it gets too hot?

Captain Mary Ann Burgess, Aiken Department of Public Safety: “There are a couple of different statutes that they can be charged under. One is Discemination of Obsene Materials to a Minor. Another one might be Possession of Child Pornography. They can be charged with harrassment.

It’s called ‘sexting’...and according to a nationwide survey, more than 20 percent of American teens admit to doing it.

Barclay Bishop, reporting: “Have you ever heard of something called ‘sexting?‘“

Mary Thurmond, Aiken, SC: “Yeah, I’ve heard of that.“

Maurice Moss: “Yeah, ha ha, yeah, I know plenty of people that have done that.“

But, what about parents…ever heard of it?

Bishop: “Have you ever heard of sexting?“

Doug Sittel, parent: “It’s a food service distributor from the North. That was bought by US foods?“

Bishop: “When you were 16, what was the taboo thing?“

Danny Thompson, parent: “Gosh, CB radio (laughs).“

Times have certainly changed…so just what is this sexting?

Moss: “It’s like you send pictures or send text messages to somebody, saying what you want to do to them, or something like that.“

Captain Mary Ann Burgess of Aiken Department of Public Safety says it happens far too often, especially in schools. She says most recently she handled a case of an 18-year-old sending nude pictures to his 16-year-old girlfriend…something she says every parent needs to watch out for.

Capt. Burgess: “They need to learn how to police these things, like the cell phone and the texting, and the internet. You know, if you’re child won’t show you their cell phone, won’t show you their text messages, I think you have a problem.“

Let us know what you think by logging in and leaving a comment below. We may use your comment on air.

We have a compiled a list of common codes to bring light to what may actually be discussed in text messages:

143: I love you

420: Marijuana

9: Parent is watching

99: Parent is no longer watching

AITR: Adult in the room

CD9: Code 9, parents are around

CICYHW: Can I copy your homework?

CM: Call me

C/S (also COS): Change of subject

CT: Can’t talk

CYM: Check your mail

CYO: See you online

CYT: See you tomorrow

DARFC: Ducking and running for cover

DOC: Drug of choice

DURS: Damn you are sexy

DUSL: Do you scream loud?

DWB: Don’t write back

DWWWI: Surfing the World Wide Web while intoxicated

EML: E-mail me later

EWI: E-mailing while intoxicated

GAB: Getting a beer

GANB: Getting another beer

GFN: Gone for now

GTG: Got to go

HOIC: Hold on, I’m coming

IMEZRU: I am easy, are you?

IOH: I’m outta here

IPN: I’m posting naked

IRL: In real life

ISO: In search of

IWALU: I will always love you

JP: Just playing

KPC: Keeping parents clueless

LHOS: Let’s have online sex

LHSO: Let’s have sex online

LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life

LTTIC: Look the teacher is coming

MA: Mature audience

M4C: Meet for coffee

MLAS: My lips are sealed

MOS: Mom over shoulder

MTF: More to follow

MUBAR: Messed up beyond all recognition

MUSM: Miss you so much

NE1ER: Anyone here?

MWBRL: More will be revealed later

NIFOC: Nude in front of the computer

NME: Enemy

NP: No problem or nosy parents, depending on context

OAO: Over and out

OBX: Old battle ax

P911: Parent alert

P&C: Private and confidential

PA: Parent alert

PAL: Parents are listening

PAW: Parents are watching

PBB: Parent behind back

PBEM: Play by e-mail

PLOS: Parents looking over shoulder

POM: Parent over my shoulder

POS: Parent over shoulder or piece of (expletive)

PRON: Porn (intentionally misspelled to mislead)

PRW: Parents are watching

RLCO: Real life conference

RN: Right now

RNN: Reply not necessary

RUH: Are you #####?

RUT: Are you there?

RUUP4IT: Are you up for it?

RYO: Roll your own

SEC: Wait a second

SLAP: Sounds like a plan

SLM: See last mail

SMAIM: Send me an instant message

SMEM: Send me e-mail

T@YL: Talk at you later

TBC: To be continued

TBD: To be determined

TDTM: Talk dirty to me

TOM: Tomorrow

TTUL: Talk to you later

WYM: What do you mean?

XTC: Ecstasy

YBS: You’ll be sorry

YIWGP: Yes, I will go private