Switched-On Magazine

With practically every teenager in the country addicted to texting, it was only a matter of time until this too was corrupted. The latest teen phenomenon is sexting, which is sending sexually explicit messages or photos through one's cell phone. With practically every cell phone being fully equipped with a camera and/or video taking capabilities, messages and photos can be sent instantaneously to anyone creating new troubles, especially in the way teenagers interact. Sex is a part of life, especially for some teenagers, so naturally it was bound to find its way into cell phone world. To many teens, this is just harmless flirting in these modern times, but they can have some very serious consequences.

Whether teens feel it's the contemporary way of flirting, all in good fun, or getting a point across with visual aids, this new trend is landing some in hot water. It seems that sexually explicit photographs being sent via cell phones are creating the greatest stir. All across the nation teens are sending inappropriate pictures of themselves, and these juvenile shenanigans are landing some in juvenile court. Groups of students in high schools are now being charged with child pornography either for sending naked pictures of themselves or for forwarding the pictures to other students. Even teachers are being caught up in the legal mess when they confiscate or even see pictures of students. In some instances, teenagers have had to register as sex offenders because of sexting, and others are facing felony obscenity charges for sexting to unsuspecting people. The social impact that it has on teens is also staggering since once these photos are sent the original owner has no control over where the pictures are sent or who sees them. Sexting can very well be used as a weapon to hurt a person by spreading a photograph to entire schools and even parents. Incidents have occurred when angry boy/girl friends or school enemies use sexting as a smear campaign, which in one case has resulted in the person committing suicide.

Sexting leaves teens vulnerable to legal and social troubles due to the lack of control they have once they press send. The law sees sexting as child pornography and a crime regardless of the initial intent of the sender. There is talk of changing this law in Vermont by legalizing sexting between 13- to 18-year-olds in order to prevent any serious legal trouble, but so far, that is the only state. Sexting may seem like a harmless thing at the time, but the after effects aren't as harmless. Don't make the mistake of forgetting that it is still a crime or allow anyone to hold power over you because of a single photo in a cell phone inbox.