MI- "Sexting" Gets Students in Hot Water

11-14-2008 Michigan:

Text messaging has more local teens in hot water. For the third time in a month, police are investigating a case of students sending sexually explicit pictures on their cell phones. The most recent incident occurred at Okemos High School. Some believe this behavior may just be a sign of the times. It's beginning to look like an epidemic- kids with their cell phones taking explicit pictures of themselves and sending them to their friends. It has happened recently at three local schools. Psychologist Gary Stollak say's behavior like this is not out of the ordinary.

Gary Stollak, licensed Psychologist: "I'm very sympathetic to college students and young people, their bodies are telling them to reproduce."

Stollak says kids are victims of having too much time and too many hormones taking over their bodies.

Gary Stollak: "Up until the industrial revolution and even after that, we didn't have adolescents, women and men were married at 14, 16 and 17."

Married and working to support a family, but with that responsibility now history, Stollak say's every generation of teenagers come up with new way's to spend their idle time.

Gary Stollak: "We have new technology that allows you to express yourself in ways that then are plastered on to the internet or you-tube or text messaging."

Stollak says, to ensure kids stay out of trouble, parent's should keep a close eye on them, make sure they have plenty to do. The Meridian Township police say they are still investigating the incident at Okemos High School and they're unsure if anyone will be charged. ..News Source.. by WLNS TV 6 Lansing