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'Sexting' Teenagers Charged With Child Pornography
Six Greensburg, Pennsylvania high-schoolers, found out to be exchanging nude pictures of themselves via text message this past November, have now been charged with child pornography, according to FOX News.
Three unidentified girls between the ages of 14 and 15 allegedly sent nude pictures of themselves to three boys, all between 16 and 17. Apparently, the school found out when one student's cell phone was confiscated for being used during school hours. Said pictures were stored in the phone.
This news, filed under 'sexting,' comes on the heels of a similar story, having taken place on the other side of the country. There is a big difference here, though. While the Seattle teenagers were kicked off the cheerleading team, the Greensburg teenagers are being charged as criminals.
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| I'm not sure. |
While we all know that child pornography is a problem that should be taken very seriously, we also know the difference between middle-aged men illegally obtaining images of nude pre-pubescent children and teenage girls voluntarily giving nude images of themselves to teenage boys. The former is criminal behavior, and warrants prosecution by the state; the latter is dumb, and warrants a whupping from a parent. [From: FOX News]
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Comments
615
Subscribe to commentscourtpeaJan 14th 2009 5:07PM
I totally agree... but it's interesting because in their eyes it might not be considered shameful to have those nude pictures posted somewhere- in fact, i believe some might want that to happen. then their body will get noticed, they will be seen by many people and feel proud of that fact... it's like insta-celebrity.
walkin07Jan 19th 2009 10:53AM
Let's see: Mooning, Xeroxes of our butts, Streaking, Polaroids of God Knows What. Maybe the technology was limited, but The thought was there. Now, it's just that 15 year olds act like 30 year old swingers. Must be all the vitamins they're getting.
40inchJan 14th 2009 6:47PM
Girls probably white - guys are probably some sort of minority - most likely black. Why else this nonsensical prosecution.
Auntie MJan 16th 2009 11:30AM
Yeah, like any parents "whup" their kids any more............they will all be falling over themselves to file a lawsuit, pose in a mag, get on Oprah, whatever. There is no more "parenting".
AlJan 16th 2009 8:16PM
Auntie M.; Well you do make an obscure point. This is what happens when the state becomes a parent. Since whipping your child now constitues child abuse and even coporal punishment has been taken out of the schools and the state does such a fantastic job at teaching the children. The next phase is for them all to become wards of the state. Since parenting is being undermined by every facet of society. Whether it's the state trying to take over or a release of new technology with no boundaries or a culture that is not held in check by all of society meaning their media.
MamaJan 14th 2009 3:33PM
I really want to know why the kids phone was being scrutinized. My sons school confiscated his phone recently, which is common when they scan the kids going into school. Then it was stolen from security. Go figure. Schools now operate without full accountability, but they expect for the kids to be accountable.
Again, why were they perusing the contents of this child's phone when all they needed to do was to hold it until a parent came to pick it up?
RinnJan 14th 2009 2:47PM
Oh my goodness! This happened at my school and these girls are in my grade; although I'm not sure who they are.
This was just in our newspaper yesterday and whichever girls did this are not only obviously attention hungry but really stupid.
CiciJan 14th 2009 2:36PM
What the heck I text sex allll the time. It's the most fun ever. People just need to keep out of it. Who cares? At least they're not out getting pregnant
Dr. Patricia HessJan 14th 2009 6:40PM
You won't feel that way after you're arrested, convicted and have to live with the label"Sex Offender" for the rest of your life, kid! This is what "SOCIETY" does to anybody who does stupid stuff like this. That term isn't just for REAL offenders. They'll lump you into the same category as the creeps. That definitely won't be any fun, having to convince prospective employers and others who find out, and believe me, they will, that you're not like that.
DaveJan 14th 2009 2:38PM
Whomever it was who looked through the cell phones after they were confiscated should be char
This might have been a stupid thing for these kids to do, but still, talk about invasion of privacy...the principal...or whoever took the phones and went through them had no right doing it, they should have just held onto the phones PERIOD. As long as the kids get lawyers with even just half a brain, these rediculous charges should be dropped easily. How can you charge minors with child pornography, come on, give me a break.
BenJan 14th 2009 8:11PM
Your not paying attention. Principles can go through a students backpack, books, locker, cellphone, and any other property the student has on school property. Even the student's car. Call your local police and they will confirm this.
melibluJan 14th 2009 2:39PM
he should have locked his phone XD
'DreaJan 14th 2009 9:39PM
well well well, what else can you expect from kids today (im 19 lol).
society basically tells them they dont have to wait until marriage to have sex and society is so sexualized today anyways so whats the problem.
OF COURSE THIS IS STUPID AND THEY'RE STUPID FOR DOING THAT!!!
but nobody whats to tell them the right way to act because nobody wants to seem like an old timer or conservative
look tell the kids once whats right and whats wrong if they dont wanna listen THEY WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES IN LIFE
and they will HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME EXCEPT THEMSELVES!!!!
why waste taxpayer money trying to "punish" them when life will do a pretty good job by itself
garyJan 15th 2009 5:46AM
I'm not saying what these kids did is ok, but I want to bring attention to the fact that school officials looked in these kids phones in the first place. Isn't this a blatant violation of the kids right to privacy. Come on America. When will you wake up and say enough is enough?
swampyJan 14th 2009 2:57PM
One way to fix this problem is to stop give cell phones that can take pictures to kids.
nicJan 14th 2009 3:05PM
stupis stupid stupid- our law and lawmakers are frikkin morons- not enacting the spirit of the law- our country is going to hell and its the fault of the people in charge not kids doing what kids have been doing for 50,000 years- charging kids with assault for fighting and posting on youtube stuff only other kids saw after school and kiddie porn for something that is not- and its an insult to all real and true child- real child- not teen post pubescent who vid themselves-victims of porn
userJan 14th 2009 3:36PM
This is how terrible reporting whips people into an ignorant frenzy.
- No one is being charged for sending nude pictures of themselves to others.
- No one is being charged with receiving nude pictures from someone else.
- Those that are being charged are those that forwarded the pictures they received to others.
I think we can all agree that is fair. Enough about "Pennsylvania Puritans." Obviously, facts were intentionally omitted and the article was misleading in order to get people worked up about something that is, in actuality, a non-issue.
CarneyJan 14th 2009 4:18PM
Thanks for the welcome perspective, user. I confess I wasn't fully aware of the mitigating circumstances (so to speak) that you pointed out.
However the fact remains that our culture and legal system makes no distinction between children and teenagers, and is susceptible to moral panics about "predators", "pedophiles", "molestation", "child" material, etc., that simply doesn't fit the realities of those involved.
This in fact HELPS actual pedophiles, as well as those who seek to cynically exploit the naive and vulnerable, rationalize their behavior (and sell it to the younger party) by pointing to this farcical situation and then claiming that ALL restrictions or limits on conduct are a result of prudish hysteria based on obvious falsehood.
In our efforts to prevent the cognitively and emotionally immature from rushing ahead to inappropriate, high-risk, high-consequence activities, we should still be able to recognize and acknowledge degrees of development and important distinctions.
steveJan 14th 2009 3:22PM
What gives a teacher or administrator the right to search through someone's cell phone? This seems like an invasion of privacy. Obviously, they can confiscate the cell phone in violation of school policy, but only to HOLD it until the matter is resolved. Way, way out of bounds.
leeJan 14th 2009 3:21PM
When I was in school, we didn't have cell phones. We just gave our boyfriends polaroids of us nude.