Is Teenage Sexting Leading to Child Pornography Charges?

  • Thread starter BobG
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In summary, an epidemic of child pornography is a widespread issue that involves the creation, distribution, and consumption of sexual material involving children. This form of exploitation has been made easier with the rise of technology and the internet, leading to an increase in cases and difficulty in tracking and prosecuting offenders. It has devastating effects on the victims, their families, and society as a whole. Efforts are being made to combat this epidemic through stricter laws, increased awareness and education, and the implementation of technology to detect and prevent the spread of this harmful content.
  • #1
BobG
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According to this survey by http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech/PDF/SexTech_Summary.pdf , about 45% of teenage kids distribute or at least receive child pornography (implied from the fact that ony 55% of teenagers have never sent or received sexually suggestive material about their friends) - just another bizarre twist stemming from cell phones equipped with cameras.

Among whatever other scary things go along with sending nude photos of themselves to a friend, not really knowing where those photos will end up, is that they're all sex offenders and could wind up having to register as sex offenders for decades (Textual misconduct).

Kind of ironic that a teenager sending a nude photo of themselves over their cell phone could be arrested and found guilty of distributing child pornography under laws intended to protect teenagers from being exploited by child pornography.

We need a new slogan similar to the old anti-drug slogans - Don't push send!
 
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  • #2
BobG said:
Kind of ironic that a teenager sending a nude photo of themselves over their cell phone could be arrested and found guilty of distributing child pornography under laws intended to protect teenagers from being exploited by child pornography.

We need a new slogan similar to the old anti-drug slogans - Don't push send!
And we need to ban mirrors in bathrooms.
 
  • #3
Reminds me of ...

http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/3287060228_simpsons_hmed_4p.hmedium.jpg
 
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  • #5
Aw man! I was going to travel to London in some weeks.
 
  • #6
Hey Bob -- Reminder: you can't have your wingman cell phone over any pics of the baby in the bathtub (when it finally arrives)!
 
  • #7
gotta wonder, when these kids mature and are in power, will they decriminalize their former behaviour, or ride the wave of shock and appall ?
 
  • #8
Proton Soup said:
gotta wonder, when these kids mature and are in power, will they decriminalize their former behaviour,
Well the current US and UK government were left wing students in the 60s and 70s - noticed their attitudes to drugs and bombing 3rd world countries?
 
  • #9
mgb_phys said:
Well the current US and UK government were left wing students in the 60s and 70s - noticed their attitudes to drugs and bombing 3rd world countries?

you're right, we're all doomed. :frown:
 
  • #10
This is actually very common. Several cheerleaders in my old high school are involved in a lawsuit with the school because they (along with like 50 other girls) had naked pictures circulating about the student body and were removed from the cheer team.

To be honest this should be the last of your worries about teen bahavior...

I believe it has to be sexually explicit to be labeled as child porn though.
 
  • #11
mbisCool said:
I believe it has to be sexually explicit to be labeled as child porn though.
Not any more in the UK.
s49 of the Coroners and Justice Bill, makes illegal the possession of "prohibited images of children" - they don't have to be obscene and they don't have to be images.
Any representation of anyone under 18, or made to look as if they are under 18 (even a stick figure or the London olympics logo http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/artblog/2007/jun/05/howlisasimpsontooktheolym) counts.

It's a further offence if the image was made for sexual purposes.

Even a frame from a film, like the PG rated Simpson movie comes under the law if you take it out of the film as a separate image.
 
  • #12
So you can be prosecuted if you had home movies of your baby that contained nudity?

I believe it must be sexually explicit in the US at least; the lawsuit with my school had nothing to do with child porn in particularly as it wasn't sexually explicit.
 
  • #13
It's a bit unclear with the new laws in the UK. Nobody has defined what a prohibited image means! Obscene can just mean, you would be arrested if you went out like that - so topless would do.

There are stories regularly of some celebrity being reported to the police by the local photo store when they dropped their baby pictures in - and presumably there are lots more cases where you don't hear because they aren't famous.
And whatever you do don't try and get the baby photo printed on a birthday cake http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/3559912/Baby-photos-that-fall-foul-of-the-PC-police.html

It's even more ridiculous in the UK where the age of consent is 16 and you can get married at 16. So you can 'know' (biblically) your 16 year old wife but if she drew a cartoon self-portrait of herself topless, she would be a sex offender! Under the old law you were allowed to take photos of each other but it was an offence to publish them, now creating or possession of an image is an offence.
 
  • #14
Lol RootX.
 
  • #15
BobG said:
According to this survey by http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech/PDF/SexTech_Summary.pdf , about 45% of teenage kids distribute or at least receive child pornography (implied from the fact that ony 55% of teenagers have never sent or received sexually suggestive material about their friends) - just another bizarre twist stemming from cell phones equipped with cameras.

Among whatever other scary things go along with sending nude photos of themselves to a friend, not really knowing where those photos will end up, is that they're all sex offenders and could wind up having to register as sex offenders for decades (Textual misconduct).
This is nothing more than a consequence of more pervasive and capable electronic communication methods. Every teenager today is walking around with some kind of device that can communicate globally by text, photo, audio, and soon video. Most teenagers know they can't trust just anybody well with photos, it's mostly the high school sluts that do it and the photos get out because they are more liberal with showing off their sexuality.
 
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  • #16
a while back I attempted to find a lesbian friend of mine on myspace. since I could only remember her first name, which is rather common, I searched for lesbians of her age in the area she lived. I was mildly suprised at the vast number of fake looking profiles that supposedly belonged to young lesbian women who vehemently warned off men from any sort of contact and said they were interested in meeting hot young girls to share pictures with.
 
  • #17
You do have to be careful online.
A friend of mine was dating an FBI agent online - when they finally met up he turned out to be an underage girl!
 
  • #18
mgb_phys said:
You do have to be careful online.
A friend of mine was dating an FBI agent online - when they finally met up he turned out to be an underage girl!

She must be really smart to fool an overage man.
I thought it's pretty easy to estimate one's age from how (s)he thinks.
 
  • #19
rootX said:
I thought it's pretty easy to estimate one's age from how (s)he thinks.

In most cases that means underestimate. Thinking hurts.
 

FAQ: Is Teenage Sexting Leading to Child Pornography Charges?

What are the causes of an epidemic of child pornography?

The main cause of an epidemic of child pornography is the demand for it. This demand is driven by individuals who have a sexual interest in children and are willing to pay for such content. Other contributing factors may include easy access to technology and the internet, lack of legal consequences, and societal attitudes towards sexuality and children.

How does child pornography affect children?

Child pornography can have severe and long-lasting effects on children. It can lead to physical and emotional trauma, as well as psychological problems such as low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. It can also have a negative impact on their relationships and social interactions.

What are the legal implications of an epidemic of child pornography?

The production, distribution, and possession of child pornography are illegal in most countries. Those involved in these activities can face criminal charges and severe penalties, including imprisonment. In some cases, individuals convicted of child pornography offenses may also be required to register as sex offenders.

How can we prevent and combat an epidemic of child pornography?

Preventing and combating an epidemic of child pornography requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes implementing strict laws and penalties, educating the public about the harms of child pornography, providing support and resources for victims, and promoting responsible internet use and digital literacy among children.

What role do technology and the internet play in an epidemic of child pornography?

Technology and the internet have made it easier for individuals to access and distribute child pornography. The anonymity and global reach of the internet also make it challenging to track and prosecute those involved in these activities. However, technology can also be used to combat child pornography, such as through advanced detection and filtering systems.

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