My Question of the Day: It seems that young people fail to realize what they do today can come back and haunt them in the future. That being the case, what (if anything) should be done about teenage “sexting” (sexting is “sexy” text messages that can include semi-nude or fully-nude photos with or without explicitly-written content)?
My 2 Cents: Anyone taking the attitude that “teens will be teens,” needs to get a firmer grip on reality when it comes to this latest “sexting” craze.
“Sexting” by those under the age of 18 is considered child pornography.
If/when teenagers are found to be in possession of and/or distributing images of themselves or others under the age of 18, they can be charged with a felony crime, and made to register as sex offenders if they are convicted.
You think I’m making this up?
Tell that to Phillip Alpert, who vengefully sent nude images of his then-16-year-old ex-girlfriend to “more than 70 people, including her parents, grandparents and teachers,” according to an article in “Nation & World.” At the age of 18, Alpert was convicted of sending child pornography, sentenced to five years probation and required to register as a sex offender. His childish prank will follow him for the rest of his life.
What about Jesse Logan whose life ended when she committed suicide after an ex-boyfriend sent naked images of her to other girls who taunted and harrassed her so badly that she didn’t want to go to school and decided living with the shame and humiliation of “sexting” wasn’t worth it?
Oh, yes. There are the one 14- and two 15-year-old girls in Greensburg, PA, who sent nude and semi-nude images of themselves with three males across their cell phones, which were confiscated when one of the students had her cell phone on during class and a teacher saw the content? The phones of all the teens were confiscated, and they were charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.
According to an article by Sharon Jayson of USA Today:
Most of those (teenagers) surveyed (73%) said they knew sending sexually suggestive content “can have serious negative consequences,” yet 22% said it’s “no big deal.”
If your child has a cell phone, or if your child is reaching the age where you’re considering getting him/her a cell phone, please don’t take ”sexting” lightly. It’s no joke.
Check out Is Your Teen “Sexting?” and Sex and Tech: What’s Really Going On for more information on this subject.
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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:
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blacknthick it goes back to there. Up bringing no one wants you to discipline there child or correct them and most folks are trying are trying to be there child friend some don’t have any good examples to look up to in there household
JoshDamage there isn’t much to be done. In some states there are laws and awareness campaigns. Kids just gotta be smart.
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The commentary doesn’t have to end!
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My Question of the Day: Is it hypocritical to be pro-life on the question of abortion and pro-death-penalty on the question of criminal punishment and/or pro-choice on the question of abortion and anti-death-penalty on the question of criminal punishment?
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