Quote Originally Posted by Squirt View Post
I think kids need to be taught that it's not ok to send nude pics of yourself to anyone. There are so many horror stories regarding pics getting out, sent to the whole school, suicide attempts because of it, etc.

A game of spin the bottle between a few kids is different then your naked body being broadcast to 20-100 people or more. $0.02
Your point is obviously quite serious.

I think that minors exchanging nude pics privately among other minors who wish to receive them is OK. To criminalize this, as examples in Lee's post show, destroys lives as well. However, what happens when a fourteen year old minor sends sexually explicit pics to an eight year old minor...and in what context? From those few facts alone, there are a number of possibilities ranging from innocent and innocuous to damaging. Because there are so many variations and unique factors no matter what the details of any situation are, each situation must be taken case by case to get to the real issue(s) at hand.

The "answer" or at least a path to the answer is being diverted by cultural and personal views about sex, and our ability or inability or search to understand it. The proof is that all of these various problems are being placed out of context by saying the culprit is one thing: "sexting." Actually it's harassment, defamation, mental/emotional assault, risk taking and recklessness, irresponsibility, sheer ignorance, and you name it depending on the particular situation. Most definitely this needs to discussed point by point to kids in school AND by parents.

It's worth noting that this whole issue is just the tip of the iceberg, and I don't think people fully realize this yet. With the many technologies being developed right NOW that aren't on the market yet, our world is going to be very different. "Sexting" will be old hat.