Being the parent of a teenager brings with it some unique worries. To these, the Digital Age and new forms of communication have given parents and guardians mothers and fathers a new set of challenges.

Among those challenges is sexting — the sending of sexually explicit messages or nude photos by text messaging. How big is the problem? A 2008 report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy claimed that 20 percent of teens had engaged in sexting.

Most parents found that number hard to believe. If accurate, it represents an epidemic. Such reports spurred calls for school administrators and lawmakers across the nation to get tough on sexting.

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests sexting is far less prevalent than previously believed. It found only 1 percent of children agesd 10 to 17 had shared images of themselves or others that contained explicit nudity. Another 1 percent said they'd shared suggestive but less graphic photos. Seven percent said they had been the recipients of photos from either category.

If the percentages are smaller, that's still a large absolute number. Teens often lack the insight to understand that while sexting might seem like a prank or youthful indiscretion, it is dangerous and can have lifelong consequences.

Until recently, Texas law treated sexting between minors as a form of child pornography — a third-degree felony punishable with a jail term and life-long registration as a sex offender. Yet despite heightened concern about the perils of sexting, prosecutors recognized that a felony conviction was excessive and they rarely prosecuted sexting cases.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican, and state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, recognized the problem during the last legislative session. They endorsed changes that went into effect on Sept. 1 classifying sexting as a Class C misdemeanor for minors who are first-time offenders. Punishment includes counseling and probation, with greater penalties for repeat offenders.

The changes reflect a more sensible approach, one that is age appropriate. Teens will make mistakes, in the real world and the digital one. Accurate knowledge about sexting and its consequences is essential for both parents and children.