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20 Percent of Teens Partake in 'Sexting': Should They Face Charges?

SodaHead Living 2012/06/15 18:00:00
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Whatever the latest technology is, teenagers will use it to get up to no good. But that doesn't make it any less alarming that nearly 20 percent of high school students partake in sexting, according to a new study.

sexting

Donald Strassberg, of the University of Utah, found that nearly 20 percent of high school students (18 percent of males, 17 percent of females) admitted to having sent a sexually explicit image on their cellphone. Almost twice as many said they had received a sexual image on their phone (50 percent of males, 31 percent of females), LiveScience reports.

And here's the really scary part: About 25 percent confessed that when they received a sexually explicit image, they forwarded it to others. Plus, more than 8 percent said they had sent a sexually explicit photo that they took of someone else to a third party.

But here's the thing, kids: You can get into big trouble for doing this. In many states, sending or receiving nude pictures of someone under 18 (including yourself) could put you at risk of facing child pornography charges. Do you think teens who sext should face charges?
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Top Opinion

  • Twinkle 2012/06/15 19:30:13 (edited)
    No
    Twinkle
    +21
    It's their life if someone else sees it and it not their boyfriend or girlfriend or whoever who cares not my life.

    I don t care gif

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Opinions

  • Tea cakes 2012/06/19 06:11:55 (edited)
    Yes
    Tea cakes
    I say yes ...as technology advances people always find ways to abuse it so laws are always being updated and added texting when driving ...downloading free music ...downloading child porn.we kno ..its illegal now to take videos of people without their consent just think if those boundaries weren't set plus the advances with computers and cell phones people could record u having sex past it on the web proudly get paid for it. although many do it anyway there are consequences and that's what some people need maybe it will help these kids to at the least think twice .you might not care about the person In The pic if you forward it but you might care about what might happen to you if tracked.....in other words don't do dumb crap if you don't want dumb laws....like the idiots drinking cough syrup New law ...you need an ID just to get it....now the fool's are drinking hand sanitizer bunch if dumb bricks if you ask me guess well need ID for that soon too ?
  • ajracestables1 2012/06/19 05:14:47
    No
    ajracestables1
    +3
    If you want to talk smutt then feel free to do so, this is still a free country! Let's go after the real criminals such as crooks, rapists and murderers!
  • Tomboy110 ajraces... 2012/06/20 03:50:57
    Tomboy110
    +1
    IM SAYING!!!
  • lea_bil... ajraces... 2012/10/15 15:09:49
    lea_billings
    This USED to be a free country. What kind of a country uses laws intended to protect children, to destroy their future instead??? Our children (teens) are the future of our country, where will we be when they are all locked up or on the list for freaking NORMAL behavior???
  • Ian 2012/06/19 05:12:09
    No
    Ian
    +3
    ... but they need to be taught the dangers of it.
  • lea_bil... Ian 2012/10/15 15:11:37
    lea_billings
    Destroying their lives permanently does not teach them anything. The punishment should fit the crime! Many teens have taken their own lives when they realize the scope of hopelessness that has become their existance.
  • Ian lea_bil... 2012/10/16 02:13:24
    Ian
    I don't think we're disagreeing.
  • venomandvampires 2012/06/19 04:12:51
    No
    venomandvampires
    +6
    Coming from a 17 year old I think its stupid that kids do this but to charge them is extremely drastic because it will follow them around forever...its like if a 18 & 17 year old are together in some places the 18 year old will go to jail and labeled as a pedophile for the rest of his/her life even though it was a consentual relationship on both parts....I would know about this it happened to a family member of mine and he'll have to live the rest of his life labeled as a pedophile.
  • Rabbit venoman... 2012/06/19 04:30:45
    Rabbit
    +1
    you know why you think this way? look at you, no one wants to get naked pictures of you.
  • Nezkeys79 venoman... 2012/06/19 09:36:45
  • lea_bil... venoman... 2012/10/15 15:12:16
    lea_billings
    Thank YOU!
  • Dan 2012/06/19 03:47:58 (edited)
    No
    Dan
    Charges no (if everyone involved is under 18). Humiliation yes. Two years ago a school janitor in a neigboring town found a phone after a volley ball game. Two of my niece's teammates were on "display" when the janitor opened the phone to see who it belonged to. A less scrupulous person could have plastered those images all over the internet and/or sent the images to all contacts listed on the phone, including mom & dad.
  • bennett.dunn1 2012/06/19 03:37:55
    Yes
    bennett.dunn1
    Setting is not a good idea. I'm not saying lock them up, but it should be discouraged.
  • andrew.pullman1 2012/06/19 03:35:11
    No
    andrew.pullman1
    +1
    Hell no
  • samantha363610 2012/06/19 03:18:28
    No
    samantha363610
    +2
    No. If they send pics its cuz they trust tht person they send them to. Its there choice. And so what? Why duz it matter. They shouldnt get fined. Thts stupid
  • lea_bil... samanth... 2012/10/15 15:14:48
    lea_billings
    They don't get fined, they get their life destroyed.
  • Amber 2012/06/19 02:44:51
    No
    Amber
    +1
    Seriously!? This is a stupid idea even. In all honesty of you stop setting there are other things such as Skype that teens would use! (as a teen myself but I've not done this.) point being we live in the age of technology and things like this will happen no matter what. What the heck are they going to do to find out? Monitor our phone calls? This is the kind of stuff that these things we have called PARENTS for to worry about and either allow or don't.
  • ancientmath 2012/06/19 02:15:35
    No
    ancientmath
    +6
    They shouldn't be doing it, but 'child pornography' for a picture of yourself? Putting one of these charges (for life, btw) on a teen will make them more suicidal than the passing of the photo itself. The epitomy of how the law can't think for itself.
  • lea_bil... ancient... 2012/10/15 15:15:21
    lea_billings
    You are exactly right!
  • someonethinks 2012/06/19 02:01:36 (edited)
    No
    someonethinks
    +4
    If you forward those photos without permission, then yes, you should suffer for it.
    But really, otherwise, this is a personal issue and should be dealt with personally. Also, if you don't know better than to take nude pictures of yourself and send them to people then it's your own fault. The aftermath is punishment enough, I think.
  • Savannah White 2012/06/19 01:57:27
    No
    Savannah White
    +3
    Teens and well everyone have freedom of speech, so texting is basically speech and teens shouldn't face charges.
  • lea_bil... Savanna... 2012/10/15 15:16:45
    lea_billings
    you have a good point, except freedom of speech is no longer considered a right by the government. Our Constitution is being chopped into tiny useless pieces.
  • dimwit 2012/06/19 01:24:57
    Yes
    dimwit
    If we can eliminate this evil practice, we will be on the road toward eliminating teen pregnancy and sex outside of matrimony!!
  • darbecle dimwit 2012/06/19 02:02:42
    darbecle
    +3
    That makes absolutely NO SENSE, at all. "Sexting" is a private matter, so if someone is charged, it would have to be foul play involved, much like rape. If what you're comparing this to (sex) was illegal. How would anyone be charged. For having sex? Foul play... So there'd have to be a VICTIM for charges to be pressed. Otherwise, its a PRIVATE MATTER.
  • lea_bil... darbecle 2012/10/15 15:20:09
    lea_billings
    The legal system does NOT see it that way. It is considered a sex crime in most states for underage teens to have sex with each other or sexting pictures or explicit texts. They WILL be arrested, convicted and forced to register, some for life, (if caught or turned in).
  • lea_bil... dimwit 2012/10/15 15:17:36
    lea_billings
    I truly hope you are being sarcastic.
  • Tyler Hutchens 2012/06/19 01:07:49
    No
    Tyler Hutchens
    +2
    Of course there CAN be dangers with sexting, for any age. You have to know that someone is trustworthy to keep your photo without exposing you. But yeah anybody can be exposed, but that is their responsibility. I have no problem if two people who have feelings for each other send each other pictures. It's none of my buisness. They just have to be responsible to know who they feel is safe to send it too.
  • Job 2012/06/19 00:49:35
    No
    Job
    +2
    I'm inclined to think this is the resposibility of their parents to handle. Government is not a big mama. However, if it's like the two examples shown on this site, there is nothing to worry about.
  • nicesteve 2012/06/19 00:41:04
    Yes
    nicesteve
    Teens under age 18 who are engaging in sex or sex related behavior outside of
    marrage are commiting status type offences and should be sanctioned and be forced
    to remain chaste until they are 25 and better educated in the acceptance of the
    responsibility as well as the privilege of engaging in sex and sexual related conduct.
    Too many kids are in such a big hurry to grow up these days, and the result has been
    a proliferation of unauthorized teen pregnancies and STD's. That is why it would be for
    the greater good for society if some of these teens were forced to wait for their emanzipations until they are at least 25 years old and not only graduated from high school,
    but also have earned at least a bachelors degree from college or the university, or at the
    absolute least, be certified in a marketable and viable skill that has good potential for the
    subject individual to adequately support themselves and a family , if necessary, and also
    make merritous contributions to their community and society as well, for the privelege of
    engaging in grown-up indulgences including but not limited to sex and sex type activities.
  • Deb nicesteve 2012/06/19 01:29:15
    Deb
    +4
    So why do you live in a free country again? so either take your commie ass to Saudi Arabia or stfu
  • ehrhornp Deb 2012/06/19 01:44:52
  • right-c... Deb 2012/07/13 20:42:27
    right-choice
    Free counties dosn't mean act like a fool, because your brains are in your pants, nicesteve is right in may ways, but I voted no because it lets other fools decide instead of the parents and morale and ethics.
  • bennett... nicesteve 2012/06/19 03:40:14
    bennett.dunn1
    This is way too extreme. And it wouldn't work anyway except under a dictatorship or similar.
  • Mishka nicesteve 2012/06/19 03:59:03
    Mishka
    That wasn't very nice, steve.
  • Dee nicesteve 2012/06/19 06:19:55
    Dee
    LOL
    I am sorry, but are you actually suggesting ppl remain virgins until AT LEAST 25?
    C'mon, get real.

    I agree with your motives, so to call them, but you cannot ban someone from having sex until they're 25.

    And you cannot impose your religious views on others. Most people do not want to get married and start a family straight away and do not want to be with that first and only person.
  • pandabe... nicesteve 2012/06/19 18:04:55
    pandabear420
    Steve, get real. Who waits till 25 to lose their virginity? Barely anyone at all. And it shouldnt be anyone else's concern whether or not teens have sex or sext
  • Stan Kapusta 2012/06/19 00:32:12
    No
    Stan Kapusta
    +1
    Their just growing up with some assistance from technology.
  • tankbunny 2012/06/19 00:28:12 (edited)
    No
    tankbunny
    +3
    I believe sexting should be dealt with by the parents. As a twelve year old I know stuff happens and teens don't thinks straight sometimes. When REGULAR people find outt about their mistake, it's already embarrassing enough. If they have good parents, then their parents should already have consequences for the teen. But having your, very personal, mistake being publicized and having so many more people know about it, isn't HELPING anyone. All it's doing is making that teens life and living hell full of embarrassment. The EMBARRASSMENT plus the PERSONAL consequences is enough, so why press charges?Although I am fully against sexting, I think, teens especially, make mistakes and don't think about consequences. But there is something called freedom of speech and if the teen decides to trust someone with those pictures, then it's their choice and they take full responsibility for whatever follows.
  • Savanna... tankbunny 2012/06/19 02:06:31
    Savannah White
    I totally agree with you. I'm 12 years old too
  • Diongenes 2012/06/19 00:13:31
    No
    Diongenes
    +2
    perhaps it would be more effective dealing with issues facing this country rather than worrying about teens and 'sexting'. Just because a person is a teen, they should have freedom of speech.

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2013/05/19 04:23:29

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