“The Kids Are Alright"

“Studies are showing that many young people have few qualms about sharing intimate photos of themselves with their friends. In some cases, it’s simply part of a flirty relationship.”

One Study's author, Karen Albury said, “[a teenaged girl's] sexuality isn't just a jewel to be jealously guarded until they're married.”

Apparently this current generation has it all figured out.

The Studies are taking place as attempts are made to reduce the number of people charged with distributing pornography, when all they wanted to do was send naked pictures of themselves to a friend. It seems that sending porn that features yourself as the object is no big deal. Where it gets complicated is when the boyfriend, who the girl was in a “trusting relationship” with, sends the picture on the the rest of the world.

Can you imagine a guy doing that? It's like he just views his girlfriend as a sexual object. She on the other hand viewed herself as, well, who knows what? 

A Professor at Carlton University, Lara Karaian says, "the problem never lies with the person who expressed their sexuality digitally, the problem always lies with the person who forwarded the image without consent. But what often happens, in a culture rife with slut-shaming, is that the girl who created the image is blamed." (emphasis mine) 

"Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 

Alice Gauntley, a 19-year-old McGill University student, puts it, "We share lots of things about our lives online now, and we're trying to renegotiate where the boundaries are.”

What Ms. Gauntley and many people fail to realize is that every generation draws the line at some point. After dismissing the wisdom of their parents, one generation says, “Enough, no further. We've pushed the boundaries far enough.” The next generation however, sees their parent's stopping line and says, “Ah, this is the starting line. Where can we go from here?” 

And then they're surprised when emotional pain and relational wreckage occurs. 

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

When we ignore the guidelines of our Creator, boundaries are more like a mirage. When left to our own understanding and logic, safety is an apparition.