| Sexting Stories |
As cellular telephone technology
advances at an extremely rapid pace,
more and more teenagers are
possessing phones with the
capabilities to snap still photos or
record short videos. Coupled with
the fact that as a society, children are
becoming acquainted with sex at
younger ages, this technology has
led to the practice of sexting;
sending nude photos or other
sexually explicit photos and/or videos
to a recipient via cell phone. The
practice of sexting has led to
numerous ethical and moral
arguments, but the practice amongst
teens has caught the attention of law
enforcement. In many jurisdictions,
these sexually explicit images and
videos, sent amongst teenagers, are
violations of child pornography laws.
[Click here for full article]
advances at an extremely rapid pace,
more and more teenagers are
possessing phones with the
capabilities to snap still photos or
record short videos. Coupled with
the fact that as a society, children are
becoming acquainted with sex at
younger ages, this technology has
led to the practice of sexting;
sending nude photos or other
sexually explicit photos and/or videos
to a recipient via cell phone. The
practice of sexting has led to
numerous ethical and moral
arguments, but the practice amongst
teens has caught the attention of law
enforcement. In many jurisdictions,
these sexually explicit images and
videos, sent amongst teenagers, are
violations of child pornography laws.
[Click here for full article]
| 13- and 12-Year Old Charged With Sexting Nude Photos |
February 3, 2010
A 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy from Valparaiso have been charged
with possession of child pornography and child exploitation after it was
discovered they were using their cell phones to exchange nude pictures of
themselves with each other.
The "sexting" case is being dealt with in Indiana's juvenile court system. In
adult court, they could have faced 11 years in prison and been forced to
register as sex offenders.
A recent study from the Pew Research Center reported that 15 percent of
teens ages 12-17 say they've received on their cell phones sexually
suggestive nude or nearly nude images of someone they know.
Indiana's House and Senate are both considering bills to separate "sexting"
from child pornography laws.
Sen. Jim Merritt's (R-Indianapolis) bill would make sexting a juvenile offense
instead of placing it in adult court. It would also require parents to attend
counseling sessions with their children.
[Click here for article]
A 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy from Valparaiso have been charged
with possession of child pornography and child exploitation after it was
discovered they were using their cell phones to exchange nude pictures of
themselves with each other.
The "sexting" case is being dealt with in Indiana's juvenile court system. In
adult court, they could have faced 11 years in prison and been forced to
register as sex offenders.
A recent study from the Pew Research Center reported that 15 percent of
teens ages 12-17 say they've received on their cell phones sexually
suggestive nude or nearly nude images of someone they know.
Indiana's House and Senate are both considering bills to separate "sexting"
from child pornography laws.
Sen. Jim Merritt's (R-Indianapolis) bill would make sexting a juvenile offense
instead of placing it in adult court. It would also require parents to attend
counseling sessions with their children.
[Click here for article]
| Father of teen "sexter": My child's not a sex offender |
February 3, 2010
A father of a teen facing sex offender charges for taking part in a chain of
picture phone messages says his kid is a good kid.
"My child's not a sex offender," the father, who wanted to remain
unidentified, told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson.
His child is facing a Class C felony for forwarding on a naked picture of a
14-year-old girl.
Police say the girl had taken the photo of herself and sent it her 14-year-old
boyfriend. The pair broke up before he sent the picture on. Police say the
image was forwarded to dozens of students in at least three different
schools.
Three teens were arrested and are facing charges that, if convicted, would
require each to register as a sex offender and serve up to a month in
detention.
[Click here for full article]
A father of a teen facing sex offender charges for taking part in a chain of
picture phone messages says his kid is a good kid.
"My child's not a sex offender," the father, who wanted to remain
unidentified, told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson.
His child is facing a Class C felony for forwarding on a naked picture of a
14-year-old girl.
Police say the girl had taken the photo of herself and sent it her 14-year-old
boyfriend. The pair broke up before he sent the picture on. Police say the
image was forwarded to dozens of students in at least three different
schools.
Three teens were arrested and are facing charges that, if convicted, would
require each to register as a sex offender and serve up to a month in
detention.
[Click here for full article]
| Roundtable on Youth, Sexuality, Technology Joint Session of Association for Research in Cultures of Young People (ARCYP) and Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English (ACCUTE) Congress 2009, Carleton University, Ottawa May 26, 2009, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Children’s Rights, Children’s Voices, Children’s Technology, Children’s Sexuality by Peter Cumming [Click here for report] |
| Sexting Stories |
| Illinois Ponders Sexting Law |
Even for state lawmakers who have gotten used to confronting strange new
societal issues spawned by technology — cyber stalking, Internet gambling,
texting while driving — this one is daunting:
What do you do about the 14-year-old kid who gets caught snapping lewd
images of herself with her cell phone and sending them to her boyfriend,
ultimately risking a worldwide audience?
Illinois lawmakers are pondering how to address the issue of "sexting," or
producing, sending or receiving sexually explicit imagery via cell phone or
the Internet. Some data suggest that as many as 30 percent of teens who
use cell phones engage in it. State law has no way to address it, short of
charging the children involved (including the self-photographer) as child
pornographers, which would require them to register as sex offenders.
[Click here for full article]
societal issues spawned by technology — cyber stalking, Internet gambling,
texting while driving — this one is daunting:
What do you do about the 14-year-old kid who gets caught snapping lewd
images of herself with her cell phone and sending them to her boyfriend,
ultimately risking a worldwide audience?
Illinois lawmakers are pondering how to address the issue of "sexting," or
producing, sending or receiving sexually explicit imagery via cell phone or
the Internet. Some data suggest that as many as 30 percent of teens who
use cell phones engage in it. State law has no way to address it, short of
charging the children involved (including the self-photographer) as child
pornographers, which would require them to register as sex offenders.
[Click here for full article]
| Rethinking Sex Offender Laws for Youths on Phones |
In Iowa, Jorge Canal is on the sex offenders registry because, at age 18, he
was convicted of distributing obscene materials to a minor after he sent a
picture of his penis by cellphone to a 14-year-old female friend who had
requested it.
In Florida, Phillip Alpert, then 18, was charged with distributing child
pornography and put on the sex offenders registry because after a fight, he
sent a photograph of his nude 16-year old girlfriend by e-mail to dozens of
people, including her parents.
In most states, teenagers who send or receive sexually explicit photographs
by cellphone or computer — known as “sexting” — have risked felony child
pornography charges and being listed on a sex offender registry for
decades to come.
But there is growing consensus among lawyers and legislators that the child
pornography laws are too blunt an instrument to deal with an adolescent
cyberculture in which all kinds of sexual pictures circulate on sites like
MySpace and Facebook.
Last year, Nebraska, Utah and Vermont changed their laws to reduce
penalties for teenagers who engage in such activities, and this year,
according to the National Council on State Legislatures, 14 more states are
considering legislation that would treat young people who engage in sexting
differently from adult pornographers and sexual predators.
[Click here for full article]
was convicted of distributing obscene materials to a minor after he sent a
picture of his penis by cellphone to a 14-year-old female friend who had
requested it.
In Florida, Phillip Alpert, then 18, was charged with distributing child
pornography and put on the sex offenders registry because after a fight, he
sent a photograph of his nude 16-year old girlfriend by e-mail to dozens of
people, including her parents.
In most states, teenagers who send or receive sexually explicit photographs
by cellphone or computer — known as “sexting” — have risked felony child
pornography charges and being listed on a sex offender registry for
decades to come.
But there is growing consensus among lawyers and legislators that the child
pornography laws are too blunt an instrument to deal with an adolescent
cyberculture in which all kinds of sexual pictures circulate on sites like
MySpace and Facebook.
Last year, Nebraska, Utah and Vermont changed their laws to reduce
penalties for teenagers who engage in such activities, and this year,
according to the National Council on State Legislatures, 14 more states are
considering legislation that would treat young people who engage in sexting
differently from adult pornographers and sexual predators.
[Click here for full article]
A 15-year-old Ohio girl faces felony charges and may have to register as a
sex offender for allegedly taking nude photos of herself and sending them to
her high school classmates.
A 17-year-old in Wisconsin was charged in May with child pornography for
allegedly posting naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend on the Internet.
Another teenager in Ohio reportedly made a sexual cell phone video of
himself and sent it to female classmates. One of the girls forwarded the
video to at least 30 other people.
[Click here for full article]
sex offender for allegedly taking nude photos of herself and sending them to
her high school classmates.
A 17-year-old in Wisconsin was charged in May with child pornography for
allegedly posting naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend on the Internet.
Another teenager in Ohio reportedly made a sexual cell phone video of
himself and sent it to female classmates. One of the girls forwarded the
video to at least 30 other people.
[Click here for full article]
| "Sexting" Leads to Child Porn Charges for Teens |
At Susquenita High School, 15 miles outside of Harrisburg, Pa., eight
students, ranging in age from 13 to 17, have learned a tough lesson about
"sexting."
"Take a photograph of yourself or somebody else nude and send it to
somebody else, you've committed the crime," said Perry County District
Attorney Charles Chenot, who has prosecuted two sexting cases involving a
total of 10 minors in the past year.
Chenot said he considers sexting a form of child pornography and wants
kids to understand once those images are in someone else's hands they
could wind up anywhere, even the Internet, possibly forever.
[click here for article]
students, ranging in age from 13 to 17, have learned a tough lesson about
"sexting."
"Take a photograph of yourself or somebody else nude and send it to
somebody else, you've committed the crime," said Perry County District
Attorney Charles Chenot, who has prosecuted two sexting cases involving a
total of 10 minors in the past year.
Chenot said he considers sexting a form of child pornography and wants
kids to understand once those images are in someone else's hands they
could wind up anywhere, even the Internet, possibly forever.
[click here for article]