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

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/06/15 18:00:00

Related Topics: Teens, Sexting, Kids, High School, Student, School, State, Explicit, Sexual, Technology, Party, students, teenagers, Pictures

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	Yes	407 votes	28%
	No	1,040 votes	72%

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.

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?

+42

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Twinkle 2012/06/15 19:30:13 (edited)

No

+21
It's their life if someone else sees it and it not their boyfriend or girlfriend or whoever who cares not my life.

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More polls by SodaHead Living

merse 2012/06/19 00:10:04

Yes

My mother is a social worker and know's alot of

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Kozmo 2012/06/19 00:07:39 (edited)

Yes

Better update the Mann Act, & if the exploiters are minors, their legal custodians may need sanctions too.

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The Bee Guy 2012/06/18 23:51:17

Yes

+1
There is a reason it is illegal, That reason is mostly to prevent them from predators. The penalties are needed to discourage dangerous behavior. The penalty usually is less serious then the danger...

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DavidKyles 2012/06/18 23:50:46 (edited)

No

+3
I'm just never bothered by activity that has no firm victims, most often between consenting individuals. These texts are between peers and are a safer method of exploration and experimentation than physical promiscuity. Really, charges? Maybe on the occasion where the picture is shared without consent. Otherwise, this is child development, not child porn. Why are we wasting people's time on this?

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Call me Mark willya? 2012/06/18 23:42:05 (edited)

Yes

+1
Isn't that like borderline child pornography? And via phone makes it a felony...

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darbecle to Call me... 2012/06/19 02:14:45

Yea but child pornography TO WHO? If both (or all) parties are underage how would that make it child pornography? And if it is, who'd be charged? The slut who sent it or the receiver? Why would anybody find out to "charge" either other than foul play anyway? In my opinion, if ANYBODY IS charged in a situation it should be THE SENDER no matter what IF the other parties are underage. Saying it's child pornography makes NO SENSE... That's the equivalent of two teens having sex, then they get charged...

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JLM630 2012/06/18 23:39:27 (edited)

Yes

+1
If its a law enforce it!

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uninfor... to JLM630 2012/06/19 00:54:16

+1
tell the president he will get right on it

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jhjhjhjh to JLM630 2012/06/19 16:44:27

thats what we're here discussing, not that it is or isnt a law, but it should or shouldnt be a law.

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JLM630 to jhjhjhjh 2012/06/20 02:06:25

It is a law, it falls under child pornography.

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lea_bil... to JLM630 2012/10/15 15:27:01

Please be advised that it will apply to YOUR children and grandchildren too! It is something that was monitored by parents for centuries. Now the government is authorized by these "laws" to take a child's entire future away from them, with laws that were created to protect tTHEM from actual predators.

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SANTARII 2012/06/18 23:38:53

No

+2
As long as there isn't abuse going on I don't see why any legalities need to be brought into it.
I could maybe agree with some form of repercussions for forwarding sexual photos ON without permission though.

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Kozmo to SANTARII 2012/06/19 00:17:53

Suppose somebody clicks a compromising photo & then post it online with info which could reveal where the oblivious could be assaulted, kidnapped, blackmailed or worse. Potentially the legal guardians could be charged with negligence or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, maybe the Mann Act.

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uninfor... to Kozmo 2012/06/19 00:55:03

or it is sent by a child to an adult who is unaware he has CP on his phone and ends up in gaol for it

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Kozmo to uninfor... 2012/06/19 03:26:21

I don't know what CP means, never had a cell & you used the British term.

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uninfor... to Kozmo 2012/06/20 07:00:42

CP means Child Pornography. My point being that if it is legal for a minor and illegal for an adult then that is a recipe for disaster. It should be illegal for all or illegal for none. That means it should be illegal in my belief. I am an Aussie not a Pom.

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Kozmo to uninfor... 2012/06/20 15:19:02

Easy, I'm a pom too (been in Canada since 3) so we're Commonwealth. Over here it's called 'kiddie porn'. iMO, if a minor sends such a picture, the legal guardian may be held esponsible for 'contibuting to the delinquency of a minor'.
No one's teaching Mores or Ethics anymore. I "barrack" for it.

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Kozmo to uninfor... 2012/06/20 15:32:47 (edited)

Hey, we're Commonwealth. I meant if a minor sent a 'compromising' snap, his/her parents or guardians should be held responsible. Over here in Anglo·America, no one teaches More or Ethics anymore.

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Zoey Walker 2012/06/18 23:03:55
Shortiee 2012/06/18 22:58:38

No

+3
they should learn the consequences of it without the law being involved... sexting already has tons of cons, why top it off with the law? I'm sure the parents can handle it

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Deb 2012/06/18 22:54:09

No

+4
Wtf? And turn our youth into criminals before they turn 18 for a stupid hormonal mistake? Do these people not realize that people with criminal records can't really get jobs? That will only lead to more people on welfare and end up costing us more in the long run...being young means being stupid and making mistakes,they will learn from them and it might even come back to haunt them later on....but lets not turn our future doctors and lawyers into thugs over this

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DavidKyles to Deb 2012/06/19 00:02:48 (edited)

Lol, maybe not turning them into thugs, but I agrer with your direction of thinking because I know of two people whom innocently got added to threw national sex offenders list. I'm assuming when charges are brought to bear, it would land you on that list, but the list isn't always very clear on why you're on it. If a guy drugs a girl at a birthday party and molests her in his car, or if a teenage couple having sex for the first time get caught by the daughters angry over-stressed mother, the list will say one thing for them both: "statutory rape". With no clarification or explanation, the same pitchforks will be pointed at both men which may otherwise not have been the case.

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lea_bil... to DavidKyles 2012/10/15 15:30:03

So TRUE!

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DOriginalDonald 2012/06/18 22:46:44

Yes

+1
I believe this falls under child porn laws.

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Tyler H... to DOrigin... 2012/06/19 01:11:03

I get where you may be coming from, but if this is between two consenting teenagers how is it child pornography? Now if it's a 14 year old sending pictures to a 26 year old because he asked, then yeah that could be considered child porn.

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DOrigin... to Tyler H... 2012/06/25 12:55:44

I believe sexting by individuals under 17 STILL falls under child porn laws, as Traci Lords can tell you

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pops 2012/06/18 22:40:06

No

Laws just makes matters worse.

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Mike Legacy 2012/06/18 22:33:58 (edited)

No

Ptch. I used to do it all the time. it was personal between me and my girlfriends. You just have to trust the person you are partaking with.

I think its wrong that a 16 year old can have sex with a 19 year old (3 year difference limit), but it is illegal for a 16 year old to send pictures to another 16 year old of themselves.

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twiligh... to Mike Le... 2012/06/18 22:49:58

+1
My boyfriend and I have been in a committed relationship for over 3 years now and he's 3 years older than me. So what you're saying is that it's okay for kids to send stuff like that to other kids but they can't send it to someone who they are in a relationship with?

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DavidKyles to twiligh... 2012/06/19 00:11:08 (edited)

He's just saying that the law has to draw the line somewhere, and that's a reasonable line. I'm three years older than my ex, and we were in a five-year long distance relationship which included a lot of flights back and forth, a notable amount of phone sex and an occasional nude photo here and there. As was said before, it involved a lot of trust. We never bemoaned the law, never even considered the law. We just giggled at the silly outdoors as we enjoyed or relationship. The issue may have been simpler or more complex given she is Canadian, but we never cared. We had what we had and we did what we could with that.

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Mike Le... to twiligh... 2012/06/19 01:35:08

+1
No, David has the right idea below you. I am defending the rights of these kids. I was just merely making the example that it is legal for these kids to have sex with legal adults but not send naked pictures of themselves. Aka a nineteen year old can have sex with a 16 year old, but not possess naked pictures of said person. Seems a bit ridiculous right?

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kazu 2012/06/18 22:25:07

No

I thought that sexting wasnt nerrisaraly images but if someone spreads the image around, makes fun of that person and makes their life a living hell then they should but in general no

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☆stillthe12c☆ 2012/06/18 22:14:37

No

That would be crazy. This is a family issue.

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Kozmo to ☆stillt... 2012/06/19 00:22:56

+1
Possibly negligent or permissive parents could be culpable for delinquency too.

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☆stillt... to Kozmo 2012/06/19 00:34:56

+1
If not just ignorant of what is going on. I have noticed that several of my neighbors have their computers in their living room or in a family room. I think that is a good idea.

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lea_bil... to ☆stillt... 2012/10/15 15:32:56

+1
USED to be a family issue, the government has taken it to a whole new level.

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☆stillt... to lea_bil... 2012/10/15 17:34:10

We need to get the government out of our homes. They are getting ever more intrusive each year.

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MarkVaughn 2012/06/18 21:43:40

No

I don't think they should be charged , in the sence of police-charges. Yet, as yu said, some R sending ' under-aged nudes, or semi-nudes. I don't like the idea of a person sending images of another person, without the consent, of the other person . That, would be on the line of illegal. As in, personal property. Image is of a person, therefore , it's that persons property. Yet, if a person wishes to send thier very own photo, of themselves to others, then that should be fine. Thier body, to do with it, whatever they wish . However, since they are useing text, ect., the source, of sending/recieving such images, then, the companys that make the devices, & or , satelites, ect. in order to transmit them, I believe, they , are entitled to some, sort of payment , though a low payment, at least, they are being reimbursed, for the technology, the creating of the devices, ect. It would also enable teens to realize, that almost nothing in this world, is for free . It would help them to better understand how it will be, when they move out on thier own, & begin to pay bill's. Again, the sending of photo's of other peaple, should be a denied, unless, the sende...&

I don't think they should be charged , in the sence of police-charges. Yet, as yu said, some R sending ' under-aged nudes, or semi-nudes. I don't like the idea of a person sending images of another person, without the consent, of the other person . That, would be on the line of illegal. As in, personal property. Image is of a person, therefore , it's that persons property. Yet, if a person wishes to send thier very own photo, of themselves to others, then that should be fine. Thier body, to do with it, whatever they wish . However, since they are useing text, ect., the source, of sending/recieving such images, then, the companys that make the devices, & or , satelites, ect. in order to transmit them, I believe, they , are entitled to some, sort of payment , though a low payment, at least, they are being reimbursed, for the technology, the creating of the devices, ect. It would also enable teens to realize, that almost nothing in this world, is for free . It would help them to better understand how it will be, when they move out on thier own, & begin to pay bill's. Again, the sending of photo's of other peaple, should be a denied, unless, the sender has the permission of the person within the photo, if nude, or partial nudity . A persons body is thiers, & they should be the only one, who says yes or no, if they wish other peaple to see it . So, with that, there should be some sort of law . With the person in photo's permission, only . If sent, without permission, there should be some type of fine set up, for the sender to pay . Plus, the photos of total nudity should be of those 18 years , or older .
(more)

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DavidKyles to MarkVaughn 2012/06/19 00:17:23 (edited)

They have that plan in place. It's called Data Fees. And the law is of the position that a child's body is not wholly theirs to command because they are not mentally mature enough to manage the responsibility of understanding the consequences of their actions.

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lea_bil... to DavidKyles 2012/10/15 15:34:36

But the legal system thinks they are mentally mature enough to manage the PUNISHMENT!

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