Sexting Results in Six High School Teens' Arrest for Child Pornography
Greensburg Salem High School Teens Sending Naked Pictures of Selves
Police say that the teens were simply engaging in a new trend known as "sexting."
Sexting is the practice of using cellphones personal electronic devices to send and receive sexually-tinged or overtly sexual messages, or sex texts. Those messages can include text, graphics, audio, and images.
Greensburg Salem High School officials learned of the objectionable photos when one of the girls' had her cell phone on during school, which is against district policy. The phone was seized and the photos found. Police were called in, leading to more photos being found, more confiscated phones, and, eventually to charges being filed against the six teen students.
Police say they are worried that the six teens at Greensburg Salem High School will not be the end of the matter. They fear that the images might have already been disseminated to other students, which will involve more arrests, and/or have made their way to the internet where anyone can access them.
Sexting Statistics And Teen Sexting Scene
It's "no big deal" said 22% of those participating in a survey commissioned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Market research firm Teenage Research Unlimited found that 73% of those surveyed knew that sexting could have negative implications.
Nielsen Mobile estimated that 80% of teens 13 - 17 and 93% of young people 18 - 24 use cellphones, according to USA Today.
The survey also found that 48% of teens had been involved in sexting, as well as 64% of young adults. And 22% of teens and 28% of young adults admitted to being more forward while sexting than they normally are in everyday situations.
To repeat: 73% of those surveyed said they knew that sexting could have negative consequences. And they do it anyway. Then there is the 22% that think it is no big deal.
No big deal until someone gets arrested.
Sexting And Child Pornography
Most teens and young adults engaging in sexting do so through texts and graphics. However, those with camera cellphones are tempted to use the camera option to be blatantly suggestive. Those that do this, that take photographs of themselves and send them digitally to another cellphone may be engaging in an illegal activity.
Child pornography laws exist to protect children from sexual predators and sexual exploitation. In the case of the Greensburg teens, the crime was being committed by minors upon themselves. However, it is illegal to take a picture of a naked or nude underage person, regardless of the age of the person taking the picture. It is also illegal to store or transfer such a picture. And it is illegal to receive a picture of an naked or nude underage person. These acts constitute the manufacture and dissemination of child pornography.
The case in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is one of the first of its kind. It should be used as a warning shot or cautionary tale by parents and guardians. It is imperative that parents and persons of authority impart to all children with cellphones that the taking, storing, or transfering in any way of pictures of themselves or others as long as they are underage is illegal and can be met with serious legal consequences.
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Sources:
USAToday.com
ThePittsburghChannel.com
Published by Saul Relative
WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,... View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentIt is absurd to think that people are ok with children passing around nude photos of themselves. I dont care how permissive society is, if you want to be a porn start wait until you turn 18..
Please elaborate, Dr...
"However, it is illegal to take a picture of a naked or nude underage person . . . "
Every statement follwoing in that paragraph is complete nonsense. The author shows no understanding of this phenomenon, unsurprisingly.
welcome to Nazi Germany, USA uber alles!
who gives a damn, these poor kids just made a huge mistake. so they then deserve to have their lives ruined? The police and the government can all go to hell....I feel sorry for these poor kids. Welcome to Orwell's 1984.
I'm not saying what they did was right or good, but they're kids, hello? I hope all of you pigs die of cancer, immediately, if not sooner. have fun when it's YOUR kid getting arrested and having their lives ruined forever for this nonsense. I hope all the dips--t DAs in this country rot in hell, as well. Die!
While some of this type of behavior is more or less normal for teens (or at least as normal as teens are), there does seem to be a trend of behavior and attitude that is increasing in society. Moral standards have become more permissive in the last couple of decades. I think that the combination of media (movies, TV), video games and most importantly, the internet, when combined with parental indifference (or worse, indulgence) are the greatest factors that account for the way kids are becoming. Parents should be teaching their kids proper behavior (and modesty) including respect for others, restraint, compassion, empathy, patience, duty and honor. This means that parents have to devote time, effort and attention to their children. Most importantly, they must exhibit these qualities themselves, becasue without setting an example, one cannot expect to teach. And finellay, no kid should have a cell phone in the first place, much less a camera phone. And no, cell phones are not a ne
If all the teens where under age and they sent pictures of themselves as long as they were to each other who cares. Do you know how many people send nude pictures of themselves to each other. I am not promoting under age sex or anything like that but who cares. If you are going to charge them with having porn under 18 years of age then you might as well arrest every 15 or 14 year old in teh unites states because guranteed they search for porn on the internet while their parents arent looking.
In all reality "sexting" is the fault of the parents. All those kids who have too much freedom and have to much unsupervised access are the ones who feel that "sexting" is not a big deal. So to punish these children with neglectful parents is wrong. If one is to punish these kids, the courts should have a punishment that fits the crime. An example would be restricting teens access while on a phone, or simply taking phones away from teens who violate pornography laws in their state. I feel that felony charges for children with too much trust from their parents shouldn't be sent to jail for 1+ years for a little mistake. Especially if the teenager isn't intent on the exploitation of another teenager. Besides this can be seen as a blessing, what parent out there would choose unprotected sex over "sexting". "Sexting" is just another way for teens to explore their hormonal tendencies, and if it came down to unprotected sex verse "sexting" I would definitely prefer the latter.
Very well written - important - timely - I agree with JE. Parents need to take responsibility for the "toys" they give their kids. Teens still need direction and parenting in the age and culture we live in. How hard is it to check out your kid's cell phone? It might be one of the most important things you do for your child's own safety.
I guess all we can do is to raise our kids with good moral values, and hope they uphold them. As parents, we need to consider what part of this picture we play, and what examples we are setting for our children. Perhaps kids who aren't mature enough to recognize the responsibilities and risks of cell phone use should not have them!
Teen sexting (teensexting.com) is a scourge that should be eliminated. It shouldn't be considered free speech and it shouldn't have any legal protection. Most importantly, it shouldn't be encouraged.