Professor Rudd
English 101
December 8, 2014
Negative Use of Cellular Telephones:
Sexting among Teenagers
Teenagers are interacting with other teens through mobile devices where they send their explicit messages or photographs. However, not only does sexting occur through mobile devices, but also through social media. Social media does take a major role in this situation as well, because it is where these photos will be leaked to and eventually they are able to be shared. Once one is caught “sexting” one will have consequences which could leave a person charged with “child pornography” and possibly go to jail for up to 10 years, or be forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. Thus, mobile devices have …show more content…
Walters in How to Fix the Sexting Problem: An Analysis of the Legal and Policy Considerations for Sexting Legislation writes, “Often juveniles prosecuted for this behavior end up being included on the public sex offender registry alongside the worst child molesters and pedophiles”. As the result of sending their explicit pictures or messages one has to obey the laws and deal with the consequences that are given. Although they are minors, they still knew the consequences for sending their explicit message or photos. Walters also explains, “Recent statistics suggest that 39% of all teens have sent or posted a ‘sexually suggestive message’ and that 48% of all teens have ‘received such messages’. Not one but many teens have send an explicit message or photograph through social media or through their personal cell phones. However, receiving the message is not the same as opening the message and still many teens make the wrong …show more content…
These teenagers have been either charged or threatened with charges of child pornography, and appellate courts have upheld convictions against teenagers on these charges. Consequently, some of those teens have been required to register as sex offenders, a status that will stay with them for decades.
Think twice before pressing send because the consequences are quite brutal and one doesn’t want to be registered as a sex offender for life.
Work Cited
Walters, Lawrence G. "How to fix the sexting problem: an analysis of the legal and policy considerations for sexting legislation." First Amend. L. Rev. 9 (2010): 98.
Bowker, Art, M.A., and Michael Sullivan, J.D. "Sexting: Risky Actions and Overreactions." FBI. N.p., July 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
Arcabascio, Catherine. "SEXTING AND TEENAGERS: OMG RUGoing 2 JAIL???.” Richmond Journal of Law & Technology 16.3: 1.
Judge, Abigail M. " 'Sexting ' Among U.S. Adolescents: Psychological And Legal Perspectives." Harvard Review Of Psychiatry (Taylor & Francis Ltd) 20.2 (2012): 86-96. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec. 2014.
Walker, Shelley, Lena Sanci, and Meredith Temple-Smith. "Sexting And Young People." Youth Studies Australia 30.4 (2011): 8-16. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec.