Kids using their cell phone cameras to take nude pictures of themselves which they send to other kids. It's called "sexting" and, according to The Guardian, it's leading to a rash of kids being charged for child pornography:
In the latest case, three teenage girls in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, who sent nude self portraits, and the three male classmates who received the images, have all been served with child pornography charges.
The girls have been charged with manufacturing and disseminating child pornography while the boys are accused of possessing it.
"Sexting" is fast becoming a moral and legal headache for school heads and police throughout America. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy last month published a study suggesting one in five teens had sent or posted images of themselves in various stages of undress.
Jim Brown, an official at Glen Este high school in the Ohio town of Cincinnati, told the Cincinnati Enquirer: "If I were to go through the cell phones in this building right now, of 1,500 students I would venture to say that half to two- thirds have indecent photos, either of themselves or somebody else in school."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/14/child-pornography-sexting
I'm so grateful I'm not raising teens today. And my parents thought I was a handful of trouble!
In the latest case, three teenage girls in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, who sent nude self portraits, and the three male classmates who received the images, have all been served with child pornography charges.
The girls have been charged with manufacturing and disseminating child pornography while the boys are accused of possessing it.
"Sexting" is fast becoming a moral and legal headache for school heads and police throughout America. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy last month published a study suggesting one in five teens had sent or posted images of themselves in various stages of undress.
Jim Brown, an official at Glen Este high school in the Ohio town of Cincinnati, told the Cincinnati Enquirer: "If I were to go through the cell phones in this building right now, of 1,500 students I would venture to say that half to two- thirds have indecent photos, either of themselves or somebody else in school."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/14/child-pornography-sexting
I'm so grateful I'm not raising teens today. And my parents thought I was a handful of trouble!
9 comments:
So the age old, I`ll show you mine if you`ll show me yours goes hi-tech. I sometimes wonder if some of these idiots were ever kids.
But what's different now about "i'll show you mine" is that the photos can then be downloaded all over the world (not to mention emailed to present and future classmates) and be used in ways they can't foresee or may not care about just at the moment. But later...
Granted, and kids should be warned about that, but slapping child porn charges on them is extremely over reactive.
I can't even begin to imagine how this problem can be tackled. Surely there has to be some response but I don't have a clue what that might be.
Wait until MoS hears about Rainbow Parties....
"... and the three male classmates who received the images"
The first thing that popped into my mind was sending nude pics to people I don't like, then getting them charged for possession of child porn... it's probably a good thing I am to old to pull it off:)
Sorry Dan but I think what you're talking about would probably fall under the Statute of Yeechhh!
Like I said, just be thankful I am to old to pull it off:)
Still it does highlight the absurdity of the law. It kind of reminds me of how some people are taking advantage of photo radar to send speeding tickets to people they do not like. All one needs to do is make a fake licence plate (easy enough to do) put it on your car and speed by a photo radar station. The automated system takes care of the rest.
Post a Comment