A new survey released by AK Tweens found an alarming trend among tween girls -- sexting.

Believed by most experts and parents to be a "teen" only problem, the survey revealed that 30 percent of tween girls -- many as young as 10 years old -- are "sexting." Sexting consist of sending, receiving and/or posting sexy messages or photos online and via mobile phone or email.

"Most parents of tween girls have a false sense of security that their daughters aren't old enough to know or care about sexting, let alone participate, so they are less likely to talk about sexting and the consequences," said Denise Restauri, founder/CEO of AK Tweens, New York. "They mistake not hearing about it from their daughters as a sign that it's not happening, when instead, it's likely a sign that they just aren't telling their parents about it.

"Even the recent spate of media attention sexting has received has been almost exclusively focused on teens," she said. "Tweens are just as tech-savvy and connected these days as their teen counterparts, but even less equipped to understand or deal with the negative and long-lasting consequences sexting produces."

The AK Tweens surveyed tween girl members ages 9-15 from around the United States.

The study found that nearly 67 percent have posted some type of photo or video of themselves online.

Of the 30 percent who have sent or received sexy messages or photos, 33.7 percent have sent sexy messages or photos, while 11.2 percent have posted and nearly 81 percent have received sexy messages or photos.

On average, tween girls responded that they started sending sexy messages or photos at age 12, but started receiving them, often from people they don't know, when they were as young as ten.

When asked why they send or post sexy messages or photos, 82.2 percent said to get attention, 66.3 percent said to be "cool," 59.4 percent said to be like the popular girls and 54.8 percent said to find a boyfriend.

A whopping 47.2 percent have thought about sending sexy messages or photos.

When tween girls receive sexy messages or photos that upset them, girls ages 10, 11 and 12 are likely to tell a parent, but girls 13 and older are less likely to do so for fear their computers will be taken away and instead forward the messages or photos to their friends for help.

"The most important thing parents can do is not assume that their children are too young to participate in sexting -- sending or receiving! It's critical to talk to kids at a younger age than is probably comfortable and inform them of the consequences -- just like dealing with strangers," Ms. Restauri said.

"Sexting is not only a teen problem but prevalent among tweens as well," she said.