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Giving your child a cell phone is a complicated decision these days—and I’m not talking about choosing the right calling plan.

Teenagers are using their cells to do more than just call or text their friends. They’ve combined texting and sexuality and morphed it into sexting.

Sexting is when teens send sexual messages and/or naked pictures of themselves to their boyfriends or girlfriends. Most cases involve girls sending photos or messages to guys.

Think it’s no big deal? Think again.

• News report:  After three girls in Greensburg, Pennsylvania sent nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves to three boys, the teens were charged as juveniles with possessing child pornography.

• News report: A 15-year-old Pennsylvania girl faced child pornography charges for sending nude photos of herself to other kids. A 19-year-old Florida man got thrown out of college because he sent nude photos of his girlfriend to other teens. He must register as a sex offender for 25 years.

• News report:  An 18-year-old Ohio girl committed suicide after being harassed for sending a nude photo of herself to her boyfriend.

A recent survey  by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reported:

• 20% of teens (ages 13-19) have sent or posted nude/seminude photos or videos of themselves
• 71 % of teen girls and 67% of teen guys who have sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they sent/posted this content to a boyfriend/girlfriend