When I was in middle school and we started going through the “sex talks,” no one I knew had a cell phone. My uncle had a car phone, but even that didn’t really work ever. So our safe sex talks in class consisted of “hey don’t have sex” and “if you do wear a condom.”

In this day and age, though, the safe sex talk needs to be expanded. A recent report showed that one in six teens today has received a sexually suggestive text or photo on their cell phone, so imagine what percentage of adults has! Just as we had to have the safe sex talk in middle school, it’s time to have the safe sext talk as grown ups. Here are the rules for safe sexting.

1. Test the waters

Just because you’ve been flirting with that girl  in your Lit class doesn’t mean she’s automatically interested in getting digitally dirty with you. Test the waters with a “you looked really hot today,” and see where it goes from there.

2. Check, double check, triple check who you’re texting

Imagine the heart pounding shame you will feel the nano-second after you realize your sexy message was not sent to Daphne, but instead, Dad. You will never be able to look him in the eye again.

3. The more innuendo, the better

Instead of coming right out with some anatomically graphic description of what you want to do, keep the excitement alive by using double entendres. Like premature ejaculation, you don’t want to blow all the sexy talk at once.

4. Keep the photos PG-13

Case in point: teen angel Vanessa Hudgens sent out some fairly explicit photos of herself to a boyfriend a few years ago, who in turn sold them to the media for God knows how much money. While the chances of you getting as famous as her are about 20 gazillion to one, that doesn’t mean a jaded ex wouldn’t send them to their whole phonebook.

5. Don’t go back and read drunk sexts the next day

You’ll just be embarrassed. Better yet, delete the evidence before you go to bed so you won’t even be tempted.