Six Pennsylvania high school students are being threatened with varying child pornography offenses after “sexting” (a term I just learned today) or sending nude cell photos to another individual.
The 14 and 15 year-old girls who took photos of themselves are looking at charges of manufacturing, disseminating, or possessing child pornography.
The 15 and 16 year-old boys who were caught with the pictures are facing chargers of possession of child pornography.
(MSNBC has more details on the story if you want them)
This cannot possibly be the spirit in which these laws were passed. Child pornography laws are in place to prevent the victimization of young boys and girls. They aren’t there to protect teenagers from themselves.
How the hell can you be the victim of your own crime? The notion is preposterous.
What’s the real lesson here?
The only message I see this sending is that kids should skip the stupid juvenile stuff and just have sex. At least they won’t be arrested, face jail-time, and having to register as a sex offender (if convicted).
Let the parents punish their kids as they see fit. The police should do some real police work like catching the sketchy adults that these laws were actually designed to stop.
Kids, please practice safe sex & safe computing. Anything sexual or threatening that you send in a text, email, or instant message can be used against you in court. Think before you click “send.”
The Geek Whisperer 