That was the headline story recently reported in the New York Times by Jan Hoffman.  If you have not yet read it, click on the link and check out this must read education news article.

Basically the days of health class and birds & bees lectures are fading, only to be replaced by sex education by cell phone.  It’s not hard to believe.  Using the social networking technologies that teenagers are comfortable with and have grown to trust makes sense.  Teenagers don’t feel embarrassed to use it, because the service is anonymous.

A number of states are currently piloting the program.  Initial results appear promising and may lead to fewer sexually transmitted diseases and lower teenage pregnancies.  Time will tell.

As with any new technology supported programs, there are bound to be issues related to privacy and parental control.  Hopefully, teenagers will not just huddle around and phone the hotline with bogus questions for entertainment value.

Do the health experts have it right and will this technology solution engage and benefit teenagers? 

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