Don't Be the Worst: When Is It OK for Me to Send a Girl a Picture of My Penis?

Our new sex columnist answers the crucial question Anthony Weiner (and every man) wishes he'd asked

BY JULIEANNE SMOLINSKI

This week, I also got a penis direct message on Twitter. It was from my friend Gina, who was worried that a penis direct messaging scandal might get in the way of our mission to get Fred Durst to direct message us a picture of his penis. I guess it's more of a contest, really, since the loser has to take the winner to Friendly's.

I must say: though there are many far more important considerations, I hope that the takeaway from this Anthony Weiner snafu is not that men should stop sending pictures of their penises to women.

Not only because this would throw a wrench in the contest and effectively end my social life, but because sometimes, penis pictures are great. I've heard the mendacious hypothesis floated that because these women didn't want penis pictures, no women want penis pictures. That's just a bad syllogism. Some women want penis pictures. No women want them under the wrong circumstances.

So let's talk about the right ones.

Teenagers and the Internet

In the 60's, Christian parents were outraged over the "shocking" youth culture.  However, parents today may wish for the "good old 60's," because on all levels, kids today are into far worse stuff, thanks mostly to the Internet. 


Who would have ever thought that the Internet would beat out television and movies as the most time-consuming form of entertainment for teens? It has! 96% of all teens in the U.S. daily access the Internet, averaging more than four hours online every day.  It now affects every family in some way, since it can be accessed in many more ways than it once could, and it is being used by teens in ways that may shock some less Internet-savvy parents. So, it is especially important for parents to know how their kids are interacting via digital media today, while also understanding that completely removing it isn't always the best move.