Sexts from Hollywood: Working it in the digital age - Rebel Yell

September 29, 2011 by Blaire Ritter

Actress personal photos leaked to the internet, urge students to sext safe

These days, celebrity sex tapes and nude photo scandals are a dime a dozen. Theyve become the standard for jumpstarting or reviving ones career. Reality starlets (and vapid morons) Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian have set the new precedent. Keepin it classy ladies, solid career move.

For those completely removed from the celebrity realm, Scarlett Johansson was recently the victim of a phone hacking scheme and is currently embroiled in a nude photo scandal. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake were also involved in the same hacking incident, allegedly sending naked photos to one another while filming the new movie Friends with Benefits. Sounds like friends with benefits indeed. Similarly, Blake Lively flashed gossip girls (and guys) all over the world with her nudie photos hacked from her phone earlier this year.

What makes Johannsens case a bit different is that she wo-manned up and admitted that the photos were authentic, instead of using the overused Photoshop excuse. To me, this is admirable. Some might think that nude messaging, or sexting, is inappropriate. Moral conundrums aside, it is commendable that Johannsen owned her sexuality. She was embarrassed that these intimate photos were leaked, not that she took them in the first place.

Now, pushing aside the ridiculousness that are the blunders of the rich and famous, Johannsens predicament brings up an interesting dilemma we find in many college relationships around the country: To sext or not to sext?

This form of digital intimacy has become the newest trend in spicing up ones relationship. Thankfully none of our lives are as scrutinized as Johannsens. Goodness, what a nightmare that would be. But the lesson in her story applies to all of us: Safe sext.

This, like most things, should be a personal choice, not one dictated by pressure from peers or a significant other. If this is how you get down, thats totally fine. Likewise, thats cool if youre not feeling it.

Just think about the potential ramifications of your actions and be sure you trust the person your sending those nudie knot photos to. For example, say your inner teenage angst gets the best of you and you suffer a tumultuous breakup with your significant other. Lets also say that this person, whom you thought you could trust, retaliates and shows those photos of your guy or lady bits to a group of his or her friends. Aside from the fact that this is outrageously illegal, your vulnerability is placed on display and not in a poetic Imogen Cunningham-esque way. Instead, youre put on display in humiliating fashion.

Remember this Rebels, if you decide to channel these Hollywood women, do it for you and no one else. Just be aware of potential consequences when sending naughty pictures, and always practice safe sext.