Some psychologists are saying that when girls post provacative photos of themselves on the internet, it does not have to be a cause for alarm for parents but merely an expression of a healthy self-image . . . ABC News: Some Say It’s OK for Girls to Go Wild . . . okay, maybe, but I would suggest the age of the girl is a factor. The piece discusses fourteen year old girls posting sexually enticing (but not explicit) photos and that would seem to me to indicate other things than merely healthy self-image. While sexual display is natural and does NOT mean a person is sexually promiscuious, some of the behaviors the article discusses could mean the young person has an unhealthy self-image . . . that they’ve learned that the only way to get attention is through sexual display or behavior. If it’s a healthy expression and joy, fine . . . to a degree . . . but, if it’s a learned behavior based upon a self-image that sex is the only way to succeed or get attention. Age and appropriateness are also factors. While the fashion discussed may be common for high school girls, some of the behaviors are not. There is a line and it is important to allow children freedom of self-expression but to monitor how far that goes so that inappropriate behavior is curtailed – informing children of appropriate beliefs and behaviors so they aren’t even likely to come up later when the child is alone and independant – but also so the child is protected from predators. I have a myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/briandavidphillips) which I use to promote my shows and the like and I’ve seen that there are predators out there and so if there are underage girls posting – with or without provocative photos – they may get undue attention but they need to know how to spot such persons and how to avoid being entrapped (some predators are very very good at what they do, and they may not be as easy to spot for inexperienced young people). Now, of course, if a girl is a legal adult, she can do whatever she wishes, but even then she hopefully has learned how to temper her behavior appropriately or at least how to spot inappropriate advances. From this site, folks know that I am all in favor of adults doing whatever they damn well feel like doing . . . but I am also in favor of informed consent, keeping things safe, sane, and consensual, of folks being honest with themselves and each other, and of predators not being able to prey upon those who aren’t quite as worldly as they might think they are. Also . . . I am in great favor of parents teaching their children to have self-esteem based upon their inner strengths not upon how they look or the like. Kids need fostering and guidance . . . they need freedom and they need to learn that their sexuality, as it develops, is natural and something to be celebrated . . . but that freedom should not lead to inappropriate behaviors which lead to activities the child may not be ready for or which opens them up to being targeted by predators. So, while parents should not be overly concerned by some behaviors, they damn sure need to keep an eye on them and offer appropriate guidance.