Ever since we released the report on our "Sex and Tech" survey last month with CosmoGirl.com, my fellow Campaigners and I have been answering questions from hundreds of reporters who want to get to the bottom (so to speak) of the "sexting" craze.

Our survey found that about 20% of teens have posted or sent nude or semi-nude photos of themselves; and about 30% have received such images meant for someone else. About 3/4 of the teens in our survey acknowledged that this kind of thing is risky and could have negative consequences.

But they're doing it anyway. And now the consequences seem to be more serious even than future embarrassment. Today's New York Times notes the latest example of teens across the country who are being charged with dissemination and possession of child pornography, even when they're sending photos of themselves. That makes for a murky legal situation, and a really scary one to find yourself in.

Countless reporters have asked me if we should just make sure teens only have cell phones without cameras. Have you tried to buy one of those? I'm not sure you can anymore. Besides, it's not the phone's fault. Instead, we need to teach teens how to use technology in a smart and safe way, and how to make sure that something done on a whim or a dare doesn't cost them their futures. Parents remain the most powerful force in teens' lives—and while most parents don't feel like they're experts at technology, they are still experts at being parents.

What would you tell your teen? Have you asked your teen if they know anyone who's done this? Tell us you thoughts and find tips for parents and teens on the Sex and Tech page of our Web site. 

Yesterday, a probably still-frozen-from-the-inauguration President Obama issued a statement on landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade One part of the brief speech especially caught my attention:

While this (abortion) is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.

Working as a communications officer for an organization like The National Campaign means that I often find myself answering whether we (The Campaign) are pro- or anti- abortion. But what President Obama so eloquently stated and what this organization believes wholeheartedly, is that abortion isn't the issue. Instead, it's the need for abortion that should be center stage in this debate.

Whether you're pro-choice or pro-life, Republican or Democrat, take a moment to consider something...if men and women in this country were equipped with the knowledge and tools to prevent unplanned pregnancy, abortion as we know it would no longer exist—the demand would simply cease.

Just a thought....

Get more info on the statement and the discussion it has sparked:

• The full statement
• Politico
• CNN.com
• The Wall Street Journal

Previous Pregnant Pause Posts:

• Responsibility Rants
• "We Should Try to Reduce These Circumstances"
• Barack's 'Pregnant Pause

Newly sworn in President Obama spoke yesterday of personal responsibility and I hoped he might offer some examples as he had done when campaigning. A few were mentioned, but they tended towards the macro and institutional—understandable given the momentous occasion and the certain knowledge that there were millions of good souls in front of him who were, literally, freezing and had been standing in a huge sardine can for 6 hours or more (not that I am complaining). No time for long lists or numerous examples, eh?

So, to fill the gap: for those of us who worry about family structure and pregnancy planning and best beginnings, what might we say personal responsibility means? Here are four bits and pieces that I have been mulling over:

1. Unless both partners are in a committed relationship, are seeking pregnancy, and are willing to devote two decades and more to child-rearing, having sex without contraception or some attention to family planning is irresponsible.
   


2. It's irresponsible for doctors/nurses/clinics to fail to talk with women about all the effective contraceptive options available to them (and there are lots now).
   


3. When insurance/pharma prescription companies finance Viagra with minimal cost-sharing but get all weird and expensive when it comes to birth control, that's irresponsible.
   


4. Offering a sex education curriculum that does not include generous amounts of attention to respectful relationships and what types of family structures seem to benefit children the most is irresponsible.

I welcome additions....

Does media influence teen sexual behavior? Can media be used to impact teen behavior in a good way?

Almost everyone has an opinion about the influence of the media on teens' behaviors ranging from violence and drug use to sex. In a report released today, Managing the Media Monster: The Influence of Media (from television to text messages) on Teen Sexual Behavior and Attitudes, we've turned to five experts to uncover the research on this topic and help us better understand how media can be used to promote healthy behaviors (such as abstaining from sex or using contraception every time you have sex).

The introduction, written by Dr. Jane Brown, provides a brief overview of the report and includes the key recommendations for consideration if you are developing a media program. Chapter 1, by Dr. Michael Rich, explores what the research tells us about the link between media and teen sexual behavior. You might remember a study that was released last November about the link between exposure to sexual content and teen pregnancy. Dr. Rich discusses this study and many more in his chapter. What do you think about the link between media and teen sexual behavior?

Chapter 2, by Drs. Tilly Gurman and Carol Underwood, explores effective media interventions from the international community. There have been a lot of fantastic media interventions implemented and evaluated outside of the U.S. and they offer some important lessons learned for U.S. practitioners. Chapter 3, by Dr. Sarah Keller, also focuses on media interventions, but takes a look at those implemented in the U.S. She also discusses the potential application of digital technologies for changing teen behavior, and provides some examples of what researchers have been trying out. Do you have any suggestions for how we might use media to influence teen behavior?

Many people have plenty to say about the media and its influence on teens, especially when it's about teens, sex, and the media. This report and supporting materials—including tips for starting a media campaign and working with the media—can be found on our Web site and provide a clear look at what rigorous research tells us about the negative and the positive when it comes to teens, sex, and the media. So, grab a cup of coffee, take a look, and tell us what you think. Enjoy!

We are two weeks in, and already it has been a busy 2009 in the world of teen and unplanned pregnancy prevention. For us policy nerds, it has been an even busier one as the 111th Congress convenes, and the ball is officially rolling on a number of pressing issues and ideas that would make the world a better place.

So, here I have compiled my very own list of things that get me out of bed every morning. Here's hoping Congress and the new Administration take note!

1. Last week, the federal government released data that confirmed the 3% increase in the teen birth rate between 2005 and 2006 (as originally reported in December 2007) and announced that some 26 states saw a significant increase in the rate for the same period. As for the others, only 3 states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant decreases, and 22 state rates were essentially unchanged. I don't know about you, but after 14 straight years of declines, this scares the pants off me. Or maybe it scares my pants on as the case may be. Wake up call, anyone?
   
   
2. Policymakers and advocates alike genuinely seem ready to move past the decades-long culture wars and to find common ground on abortion. Among the ways to do it: getting to the root of the issue and helping women avoid unplanned pregnancy in the first place. The Prevention First Act, which has already been introduced in the U.S. Senate and will be introduced in the House later this week, proposes several ways to achieve that goal, including increased access to birth control and making information about sex, pregnancy, and childbearing available to young people.
   
   
3. Young people of color are still falling through the cracks. Latina teens and African American teen girls are more likely than not to become pregnant before turning twenty. Exhibit A: The Dallas Morning News recently announced the first babies born in 2009 in the area, a New Year's Day tradition, which included the first baby born at Dallas' Parkland Memorial Hospital to a fifteen-year-old Latina.
   
   
4. Our health care system could use a little work. Okay, some would argue that it needs a complete overhaul. Regardless of what steps are taken, they should improve access to the services that help women and couples successfully plan families and prevent pregnancy. That's just plain old basic health care.
   
   
5. Studies continue to show that preventing unplanned pregnancies actually saves money. This just in from the "Duh" files. And in this economy, what better to invest in than a public health intervention that both improves the lives and health of women and families and relieves some of the crunch that state and federal governments are feeling.
   
   

This list is exciting, daunting, jaw-dropping, (insert adjective of your choice here)...but more than anything, it's a reminder of all the work that we have to do this year and the ENORMOUS opportunities that we will have to make a difference on the issues that we care most about. Be sure to check out the more comprehensive list of The National Campaign's work in the policy realm.

Let's get to work, people.