Sexting has quickly grown to the number one cause of STD transmission, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. "It's an increasing concern for us, because the prevalence of said activity is increasing rapidly with all of the new smart phones with cameras and vibration capabilities," Linda Garner, the leading researcher on sexting said. "It's practically an epidemic."
"Well, I sext because it's a fun distraction during class. I get bored so I decide to type up horny thoughts and send them to this guy I'm kind of seeing," said Alexis Rogers, a Sophomore at Iowa State University. "And when I'm tired of studying at home, I take a shot of tequila and take naked pics. It's funny because it's scandalous!"
What many young college students don't understand, is that this habit is leading to health risks and concerns. Several new cases of chlamydia, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV have been sprouting up all over the country. They're concentrated in college towns, but it's spreading through other communities as well. "We're seeing a lot of older adults, you know, middle aged, partaking in this activity because they think it's a fun way to be young again without much risk, but symptoms typically start to show up after one or two sexting encounters, and they're left scratching their heads, or their...you know whats," Garner said.
The new outbreak has inspired a new wave of sex education videos and articles from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. "A lot of people are catching these sexually transmitted diseases unawares, and our job is to inform them, so they can make educated decisions about their health," Dr. Grant Turner, a colleague of Garner's said. "That's why we've created this new miniseries with catchy names to get college students', and even high school students', attention."
Some of the video names include: "Drop that Phone! How Sexting Can Get You Into a 'Sticky Situation'", "Multiple Sexting Partners? You May Be Texting Them For a Different Reason Next Time", and, "Got an Itch? Well, You're S#*t Out of Luck". Dr. Turner is hopeful that these videos will help to inform, but also to scare people away from the idea of sexting. "It's an awful habit, I want it obliterated. I really hope that everyone learns to abstain....You don't even get to touch the other person! Bollocks."
Garner says there are ways to sext safely however. "Even though Dr. Turner would prefer to see it abolished completely, and there are several others similar to him, most of us at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention understand that it's unlikely to be completely wiped out." The CDC is planning on launching a line of "Keyboard Condoms" to place over the keyboard of a phone. Garner explained, "It reduces the actual physical contact with the sexual words. We find verbs are the most common carriers of STDs, so if you plan on using a lot of verbs, slip on a Keyboard Condom and you're all set to go." They're also introducing a line of lubricants to reduce finger chafing and increase typing speed in users of the Keyboard Condom. "It's about having fun, not contracting diseases, so we're helping the folks out there that want a satisfying, safe ride. Enjoy!"
