Teens are constantly on their phones.

According to Pew Research Center, 88 percent of teens have access to cellular devices, and 90 percent of those teens text. In fact, on an average day, a teen sends and receives around 30 texts. Texting is a fast way for teens to communicate and express themselves verbally and non-verbally (see: emoticons). Not only are teens using phones to express themselves socially, but some are using them to express themselves sexually — by sexting, or sending sexually explicit photos.

Prior to smartphones, teens’ sexual expression was more discreet. Thanks to modern technology, youth have a whole host of ways to sexually connect with one another, and that includes sexting.

Although the exact number of youth who sext is unknown, research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reported 7 percent of teens have sent or shown someone sexual pictures of themselves, in which they were nude or almost nude. Another study published in the Journal of Pediatrics estimated approximately 20 to 25 percent of American teens engage in sexting. Other reports estimate the proportion of teens who sext falls between 15 to 28 percent, with numbers increasing after youth enter college. Regardless of whether it’s closer to 7 percent or 25 percent, it’s clear teens often don’t think about the consequences of those risque photos landing in the wrong hands.

[See: 10 Ways to Broach the Subject of Sex With Your Teen.]

Many teens couldn’t imagine that their beloved would share that intimate picture with anyone, let alone friends. By sexting, teens run the risk of having their image leaked, with devastating consequences. So why on earth would teens sext? Here are a few reasons:

Curiosity: By nature, teens are sexually curious, but that curiosity may come at a steep price. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, teens who sext are at an increased risk of becoming sexually active a year later. Aside from physical consequences, there may be legal ones for sexting that involves minors, depending on their state of residence. Some states have adopted sexting laws that are specific to teens who consensually sext. These penalties can come in the form of community service, fines, counseling or detention. Other states prohibit the sending of nude pictures and consider it under the category of child pornography; that’s a hefty charge for a teen to have to register as a sex offender for life.

Peer pressure: Make no mistake, peer pressure is real, and it can sway a teen to do the unthinkable. Just recently, I had a teen ask me how to handle a situation in which her friends were pressuring her to sext. She went on to explain that these were her only friends, and if she didn’t sext, she may lose them forever. As an outsider, it’s easy to tell her to walk away from those friends. But in the adolescent world, peer acceptance is everything. The idea of being alone can cause teens to cave and go against their better judgment.

[Read: How to Keep Teens From Turning Their Smartphones Into Weapons.]

To express love: There’s nothing quite like the experience and excitement of a first love. To an infatuated teen, love trumps logic, and that’s just what happens when a teen sexts. Teens get so wrapped up in the emotional arousal, they often forget that sext can end up being shared online for all to see.

Obliviousness to the consequences: This isn’t just an excuse. There is actually scientific evidence to back up the claim that often teens simply aren’t thinking about what bad things could happen when they sext. There’s a special part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex (also known as the CEO of the brain) that is responsible for problem-solving, impulse control and weighing options. This part of the brain is still in its prime stage of development in adolescents. According to an article in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the prefrontal cortex isn’t fully mature until a person is in their early to mid-20s. So, while we expect teens to know better, the fact is that there are some physiological reasons why they don’t.

Sexting is safer than sex. However, as research shows, sexting can lead to sex. So, it’s a road to wanting and trying more risque things. If those photos get out, they can be shared around school, or worse yet — go viral or end up on a porn site. Many teens may convince themselves that their online activity is private, but in truth, there is no such thing as “online privacy,” and there never will be. One split-second decision can lead to a lifetime of regret.

Teens often forget their phone is a direct line to the virtual world, a world full of hidden dangers. In order to protect teens, we need to have open and candid conversations about misusing their phone for sexual purposes. Just as we talk with our kids about drugs, sex and bullying, we should spend time speaking with them about the risks associated with sexting.

[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]

One way to help prompt these conversations is by using hypothetical situations addressing specific sexting scenarios. For example, “What would you do if…” questions provide an opportunity for teens to work through complex dilemmas. Additionally, allowing teens to flip the scenario and to ask us, “What would you do if…” questions helps them see how we come up with solutions to tough problems.

Lastly, we need to monitor online behavior. While teens value their privacy, their safety is also important. When it comes to teen sexting, prevention is a much better strategy than trying to do damage control.

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5 Reasons Teens Sext originally appeared on usnews.com