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Sexting Is Naive—But Cops Calling It Child Porn Is Stupid

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 17, 2009 3:47 PM CST
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(Newser) – The recent—or recently discovered—“sexting” epidemic has produced a reasoned response from educators, and a wild overreaction from police,” Dahlia Lithwick writes on Slate. “Schools are enacting what amounts to a don't-ask-don't-tell policy” on teenagers sending out naked pictures of themselves, and others, she writes. But cops are hauling in high-schoolers on child pornography charges. “Cyber-humiliation shouldn't be grounds for a very real and possibly lifelong criminal record.”

“These kids are not predators,” Lithwick continues, “and have no intention of producing or purveying kiddie porn.” Guilty only of being “brash and sexy,” they are being prosecuted across the land. It's unfortunate that these "shared" photos often get out of control. But the idea that kids must be prosecuted, Lithwick writes, “because they are too dumb to understand that their seemingly innocent acts can hurt them, goes beyond paternalism.”

Parents listen to a seminar conducted on cybercrime.
Parents listen to a seminar conducted on cybercrime.   (AP Photo)
A new Nokia 6720 classic is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009.
A new Nokia 6720 classic is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A beachgoer talks on her Motorola RAZR cellular telephone as she sits in the sunshine Tuesday, July 29, 2008 in Monmouth Beach, N.J.
A beachgoer talks on her Motorola RAZR cellular telephone as she sits in the sunshine Tuesday, July 29, 2008 in Monmouth Beach, N.J.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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Twenty percent have posted a naked photo of themselves despite the fact that 71 percent of those asked understand that doing so can have serious negative consequences. Smells like teen spirit to me. - Dahlia Lithwick

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Guest
Mar 20, 2009 5:41 AM CDT
War is a crime. Consensual sex and nudity shouldn't be.
Caps
Feb 18, 2009 6:51 AM CST
EastCoastPhilly I agree where has all the morals of this country gone?
Guest
Feb 18, 2009 5:28 AM CST
Nice to see that Newser removed the photo of the innocent young girl with the cell phone that they originally used with this story on the front page...

Sensible Vermont moves to decriminalize the practice
MSNBC

On a "sexting" prosecution with some merit, in Mass.
Boston Herald

An informative study on the subject
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

 
high school • text message • child pornography • teenager • criminal charges • criminal prosecution • mobile phones • sexting

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