Logging on to Facebook on a typical Tuesday night, I see the usual host of witty statuses and posed pictures. Among these photos, I spot one that has over 200 likes. Naturally, I click to see what could garner so much interest.

A bare stomach. Naked legs. Low cut shirt. Push-up bra.

It is disturbing to see skimpy pictures of high school girls all over Facebook. Young girls post photos of themselves wearing next to nothing, as though they are trying to act years older than they actually are. As a result, they end up looking silly and trashy.

Even as kids, we are warned not to post anything on the Internet that would risk losing opportunities in the future. Obviously, posting those pictures will not look as cute to college admissions officers or future employers as they do to a group of teenage boys.

I think most of these people know they look trashy.  The question then becomes: why do these girls think it is okay to exploit their bodies?

Part of it must be the impossible pressure that our society presents to look “mature” and “sexy.” There are Victoria’s Secret models strutting more than half naked across our TVs every December. Celebrities dress in corsets and sheer outfits all the time. These are the images that are displayed to the teenage audience and the teenagers, in return, are expected to mold themselves to match.

These girls seek attention. They need the 200+ likes on their pictures to feel good about themselves. Each like affirms the fact that the girl is “sexy” or “adult.”

Girls are so incredibly insecure with themselves that they feel the need to post photos of themselves with underwear poking through the top of their jeans. Some of you might think, “Do people actually do this?” Yes, unfortunately they do. There are a plethora of cover photos that are of girls’ chests and profile pictures that are at a surprisingly uncomfortable angle. Some teenagers are so insecure about themselves that they need this affirmation from others. This insecurity could stem from a variety of factors—boys, models or society’s pressure.

The solution to the problem is not posting pictures of their bodies half naked on Facebook. The solution to the problem is for them to learn to respect themselves enough to acknowledge that the disturbing photos are unnecessary and actually add to the perception that they are immature. The solution to the problem is not to be dumb and trashy, but to be classy instead. A girl with a confident stride and a fully clothed body will go much farther in life than an insecure girl with a glitter bra and gemstone eye makeup. Posting those photos on the Internet does not make boys respect them. Sure, maybe they will get the five second confidence boost when they see that little red notification on their computer screens, but in the long term they lose the respect of themselves and others. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your body, but there is something wrong with not respecting it enough to keep it covered in front of 1,500 of your “closest” friends.