NY- "Sexting" Behavior Gets Reactions From Teens, Teachers and Parents

11-14-2008 New York:

Wherever there are kids, teens are likely "sexting" back-n-forth; that is: trading images with sexual content, sometimes images of themselves. This can constitute a crime.

“I've never heard it before. I mean I've heard of it, but I've never even thought there was a term for it," said Linnea Shumway, 16, who is a junior at Canandaigua High.

Another Canandaigua junior, Richard Kennedy said, "Most kids just don't get what they're getting themselves into, they have no idea what they're doing."

Teens are beginning to discuss this issue in Jamie Glover's health class. They're reacting to news of criminal charges like the ones filed against a 16-year-old Webster student in September.

"I thought it was pretty harsh, for a 16-year-old to go to jail for, like, four years--that's got to ruin your life," Linnea said.

"I think that there definitely have to be consequences, but I don't think we should be charging teenagers with felonies, especially when it's their own age group. I mean these kids should get help; they shouldn't be in prison. They need to see a counselor and they need to talk to people and…work this out," Richard said.

Teachers like Glover admit they know what's going on, but they don't know if students understand the consequences.

"That's the problem,” said the Health teacher. “I don't think that they are. I think it's one of those things that they're acting very impulsively, and then after the fact they're realizing what the ramifications are."

Many teens see sexting as nothing more than flirting.

"I think that's pretty much what it comes down to,” Linnea said. “Just a guy and a girl who are interested in each other."

On our website, one mother wrote: "You just can’t talk to your kids and hope they listen, and then send them off on their own. You need to watch them; catch them in mistakes and correct them; lead them down a proper path, no matter how many bumps there are in the road." ..News Source.. by Sean Carroll