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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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5

Sexting Pics Live Forever, Teens Warned

Stalkers, potential employers may have access to photos years later

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(Newser) – The critical problem with sexting is that salacious snaps teens send of themselves from their cell phones can exist forever in cyberspace. That's the message Australian authorities are stressing in a new educational anti-sexting campaign. Nude pictures sent in fun could end up being posted on the Internet by sexual predators years later or could scuttle job prospects if spotted online by potential employers, reports Reuters.

"An innocent joke or harmless flirting can be very damaging if it falls into the wrong hands," warned an official. "It is frightening to think that once these images are online or on a phone, anyone anywhere in the world can access them." Sexting is an increasing problem as parents and law enforcement authorities struggle to cope with the phenomenon. Some teens have been charged with child pornography for sending nude photos of themselves.

Parents listen to a cybercrimes seminar conducted by Connecticut State Police.
Parents listen to a cybercrimes seminar conducted by Connecticut State Police.   (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, file)
Sex harassers, blackmailers and potential employers may have access to sexting photos posted online.
Sex harassers, blackmailers and potential employers may have access to sexting photos posted online.   (©permanently scatterbrained)
Sexy photos sent via cell phones can end up years later posted on the Internet to be accessed by anyone, authorities warn.
Sexy photos sent via cell phones can end up years later posted on the Internet to be accessed by anyone, authorities warn.   (Getty Images)
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5 comments
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NutsInNY
May 4, 09 7:04 AM CDT
Alternate headline: Sexting While Young Gives You Eternal Youth, Teens Promised Reply
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kirei_gaisuto
May 4, 09 8:09 AM CDT
why would an employer not an hire you because of a dirty picture? It's your business. I mean I guess I can understand if you're interviewing for a church job or something but if I'm going to work in an office why does it matter? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Mad
May 4, 09 12:48 PM CDT
No doubt, KG. I can't imagine a prospective employer saying "Okay, here's a list of who we may hire, let's compare them against our database of girls who have flashed there boobs online" --- okay, maybe I can imagine that. Heh.
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Alexandria
May 5, 09 12:32 AM CDT
The general public was taught that once you put something on the internet, it's there forever and still no one cared.. so why would they care when it comes to sending dirty photos? They're also teenagers, and teenagers aren't known for making the best decisions. Well done, Reuters, congratulations on wasting time. Reply
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oldgoat
May 5, 09 4:13 AM CDT
Teens among others need to realize that business is getting more into searching the web for anything that relates to you. Maybe right now it doesn't matter, but it can come back to be the part that keeps you from getting the job that you want or more important maybe the job yuo need. Just because you are sending them to your boyfriend doesn't mean that it where it will stay. Breakups can be nasty. Reply
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