Dangers of Sexting

Sexting. What exactly is that anyway?
Simply put, it is defined as the act of sending sexually explicit content, usually between cell phones. And, it has become far too common between teens and young adults. The statistics are alarming. As many as one in five teens have sent sexually suggestive photos of themselves to someone else. That's ONE in FIVE. And, a study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy shows a third have received such images. In focus groups, teens told researchers that sexting is used to experiment with sexuality or as part of a sexual relationship.

But, when it comes to the law, keep in mind that many states view this as child pornography. Teens, as well as adults, have been charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. While some states are re-examining the law, it is still a bad... very bad idea.

For one thing, you can never be absolutely certain of who will receive or see these images. Certainly, you never intended for Joe in your Algebra class to see these images, but maybe you selected the wrong address when you hit "send" or maybe the person to whom you did send these images decided they would then share them with Joe. And with Michael. And with Robert. And with your best friend, Sarah. Well, you get the idea. The evening news has covered more than one teen committing suicide because of this exact scenario. 
In this very fast-paced world of social media, teens and young adults are quick to share information with others. For them it is completely normal and just good fun. Yet, many do not think about who they are sharing information with and the consequences that may arise. We all know teens think, "oh, that would never happen to me." But, more and more, we are all learning how this technology we love can also work against us. And, so quickly. Those images move with lightning speed through Facebook, email and cell phones. Once something like this takes off, its hard to stop it.

I could throw out more statistics and court cases, believe you me there is a lot of information out there on this subject, but I think you get the idea. This is a topic that deserves everyone's attention. Teens, especially, need to be reminded about making wise choices when sharing content with others. They need to be aware of what could happen, even if they don't think it could ever happen to them.
Teach students the dangers of sexting with our new DVD, Sexting: Sex Plus Text Equals Trouble.

Your New Credit Card

Why did you apply for that credit card? Was it to purchase an airline ticket online? Was it to help establish good credit for your future? Or was it because you find yourself low on cash each month?

Let’s hope it was not for the low on cash reason. That should be a big, red flag for absolutely not getting a credit card. If you cannot live within your budget, a credit card is not the answer. But, we do need credit cards for most of our online purchases. And, more importantly, to establish a good credit score for future purchases, like a home or car. When you apply for a credit card, you know it will be a helpful tool, but one that you need to be very careful with. Sort of like buying a chain saw. Sure, it’ll help you cut down that tree, but there are obvious risks. This is how you need to treat your credit card. Use it only when necessary... and when you do use it, proceed with caution.

So, what if you are new to using credit cards? You’re not so sure when and when not to use the card. Or maybe you just want some parameters to keep yourself in check until you feel more confident. If that’s the case, then here are some tips for making smart decisions with your new card:

• First and foremost, you need a budget. You need to know that you can pay off any balances at the end of each month.
• Excellent point – pay off your balance every month. You’d be amazed at how quickly carrying a balance can add up and get you in trouble.
• Only use the card when absolutely necessary.
• Be sure to shop around for the best rate.
• Review your statement every month. This will help you see how your money is being spent and also ensure that your card has not been used by anyone else.
• Keep your card in a safe place. And, if you do lose your card or you suspect it has been stolen, alert your financial institution immediately.

If you spend within your budget, use your credit card only when necessary and use some common sense, you’ll be on your way to establishing good credit for your future.

Share Your Linx Experience and Win!

We want to hear from you!

Linx Educational wants to share your photos of your personal Linx experience in or outside the classroom. Lauren, above, sent in a cool shot of her working on her resume after watching a Linx video on resumes and cover letters. Get creative! The best of the month will be featured on our website and Facebook, and will  be given a small prize.

To submit:   Upload your photo to our Wall on Facebook with a short blurb of who, what, where, and how Linx helped you. Get your friends and family to like it, and the user with the most likes and shares by the end of the month will win! Creativity will win you points with us, too. Good Luck!

SAFELY SHOP ONLINE

Can you believe its that time of year once again? The holidays are approaching quickly and that means holiday shopping. And since buying gifts online has become much preferred over crowded malls, seems this is the perfect time for some reminders on how to safely shop online. So, as you curl up next to your laptop with a cup of hot chocolate and your credit cards, here are some simple, but very important, tips to keep in mind:

• Be sure you are shopping on an encrypted site. How would you know? One clue is by looking at the web browser's address bar. If the page begins with "http" then you are not. Make sure the page you are on begins with "https". That little "s" indicates the site uses Secure Sockets Layer protocol which simply means it is encrypted, thus safe.
• Check for online reviews. You can use Google, but don't forget the Better Business Bureau website, as well.
• Many sites will have a Trustmark like BBB or VeriSign. These can easily be loaded on a site, so click on the logo in order to verify they are legit and current.
• Beware of using your laptop in un-secured locations. That cute little café may seem like a relaxing place to do your online shopping, but make sure their wi-fi is secure.

And, here are a few more tips provided by the FBI website. If anybody knows what to watch out for, its these guys:

• Use caution when dealing with companies and individuals from outside your own country.
• Purchase items online using your credit card, rather than a debit card. That way if something does go wrong, you can dispute the charge.
• Be cautious when responding to special offers through unsolicited email.
• If you are suspicious, obtain a physical address, rather than post office box, and a telephone number. Call the seller to see if the phone number is correct and working.
• Send an email to the seller to make sure the email address is active.

For the most part, shopping online with your credit card is safe. But, as with anything else, use common sense and proceed with caution. And, no matter how much due diligence you follow, bad things sometimes happen. So be sure to check your monthly statements to ensure all charges are in fact yours. If there is something you do not recognize or know is not yours, contact your bank immediately. This means you should always keep a list of your credit cards, credit card numbers and toll-free numbers in case your card is lost, stolen or compromised in any way. And this should go without mentioning, but be sure to hide this list in a very safe place.
With these little tidbits of advice, you are ready to shop, right? Well, as long as you have done this one last, but most important task. Set a budget. Make sure you know what you can spend and when you’ve reached that limit. The last thing you need is a monster credit card bill landing in your mailbox come January.
Happy Holidays!