Teen Sexting: Should it Be Banned?
I don't think it can, unless the cell phone companies disable the camera and video features. Since that's not going to happen, I think it's important for parents to educate their kids not only about the morality issues but the social and legal consequences of sexting.
What is Sexting?
Sexting is a form of texting, where people send each other naked or suggestive photos of themselves. This is a growing fad with teenagers, and one in which I didn't know about until I saw the topic on Associated Content.
Legal Consequences of Sexting
The punishments for sexting do not fit the crime, in the majority of the cases out there. For instance, a fifteen year-old girl is facing child pornography charges after sending nude photos of herself to other kids. Whether she sent them to friends or strangers I don't know, but I feel that the legal repercussions are extreme, given the nature of the offense.
Sexting turns criminal when it done out of malicious intent to cause severe emotional distress and/or bodily harm against another person.
Whether the intent was criminal or not, the legal repercussions for sexting can be swift and lifelong. Ask Phillip Albert, who is listed on Florida's sex offender registry after he sent a naked photo of his ex-girlfriend to her family and friends, which ultimately wound up on the Internet.
Social Consequences of Sexting
The repercussions of teen sexting depend on the society that the teen lives in. In the cases of Jesse Logan and Hope Witsell, the repercussions were so bad that both girls committed suicide in order to escape their daily torment.
In Albert's case, a rash decision changed the course of his life and not for the better.
Conclusion
I don't think we can ban teen sexting any more than we can prevent them from drinking or doing drugs. However, I do feel that parents should educate themselves about this trend and have an open discussion with their children about the risks involved.
I also feel that the government needs to amend its laws so that the punishment for sexting does not equal the punishment for child pornography.
Published by Deborah Woehr
I am a freelance researcher and writer with 12 years experience under my belt, an avid reader, and the author of two books. I enjoy writing about technology, restaurants in my area, my favorite books and mov... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentI agree that dealing with sexting is difficult, especially when minors are involved. Parents need to speak to their children about the dangers of sexting before it's too late.
Sophie