The consequences of sexting
EL PASO, Texas — It is no wonder so many teens have cell phones. They are convenient, a great way for parents to keep tabs on their kids, and they are a status symbol. Teens, however, also use their phones to send inappropriate pictures. It is an ill-advised practice that could mess up a life now and follow a teen well into adulthood.
A girl who had barely begun her teenage years, had her life changed dramatically. Dating an older boy just led her to stress and trouble.
Laura Christopherson, Assistant County Attorney in El Paso. (Amanda Urquidi/Journalism in July)
She was 13 when she started dating a boy who was 17. They met through a friend and the relationship clicked. They met each other’s parents and began getting a little more serious in the relationship. He asked her to send him an inappropriate photo. At first she refused, but he then convinced her to change her mind. She trusted him, but began feeling guilty after she had sent the picture. She started having serious doubts, but he assured her that nothing would happen. One day her father went through her cell phone and found the photo she had sent to her boyfriend. Her father grounded her, took her phone away, and forced her to break up with the boy. After they broke up, the boy’s friends confronted her about the situation. They made fun of her and humiliated her. Her father sent her to another school, so she was now dealing with loneliness, embarrassment, and having to get comfortable in a new environment.
“I thought I could trust him, but turns out he was a liar and didn’t mean a word he said,” said the anonymous teenage girl.
Unfortunately, there are many stories like hers. According to pewinternet.org, four percent of cell phone users ages 12-17, have already sent a sexual image to someone else on their phone. 15% of those cell using teens have received “sext pictures” of someone they know, but what they may not know is what they are doing is illegal. Possessing an inappropriate photo of someone under 18 is considered child pornography. Delivering a sexual picture of someone under 18 is also illegal.
Laura Christopherson, Assistant County Attorney in El Paso, described sexting can be two things; the sending of sexually illicit messages and the sending sexual pictures. There are many messages that are inappropriate, but she and the court do not prosecute those. They focus more on the nude photographs.
Many parents are now buying cell phones for their kids for safety, and many allow their children to choose their own phone. Many kids feel left out if they do not have a phone with a camera.
Christopherson says parents could eliminate the danger of sexting simply by making sure their children’s phones do not have a camera.
“I understand for safety, but now, help me understand why that phone, for safety, has to have a camera,” said Christopherson. “It seems to be young people just trying to fit in.”
Many people who own cell phones cannot control receiving a sexual photo. Once you have received it, you cannot take it back. If it has been sent to someone older and the photo is of a minor, that older person could face consequences of having child pornography on their cell phone.
“If they prosecute you for sending or receiving a naked photo of someone under-aged, you will have a felony conviction on your record,” said Christopherson. “A felony cannot get off your record until after you are 21 years old. When you turn 21, you can file a petition with the court to seal your record, but most teens begin applying for jobs at the age of 18 and 19.”
She says having a record of committing this felony, you would have trouble getting hired anywhere.
If an adult is convicted of child pornography, her or she can be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his or her life. For a juvenile, there is mandatory two year counseling. Once those two years are up, the court makes an evaluation as to whether the juvenile is labeled as a sex offender. If they are considered sex offenders, they will be registered for ten years.
According to pcsndreams.com, 60% of teen boys say that they send nude pictures of themselves to be “fun” or “flirty.” The latimesblogs.latimes.com states, 15% of boys send their ex-girlfriend’s photos far and wide once they have broken up.
“I didn’t have anything to worry about,” said one teenage boy who did not want his name told, “I had a picture of her and if she were to spread my picture, I would’ve spread hers.”
There is pleasure in sexting, but where is the pleasure in the consequences?
