NY- SEXTING: How Our World Is Changing

11-14-2008 New York:

Our world is changing – quickly! I like to think of myself as still a rather young man; just 10 years ago I was a few months out of high school and finding my way on a college campus. I didn’t have a computer of my own (used my roommate’s), I didn’t have a cell phone of my own (I wouldn’t for 4 more years!), and I was just then exploring the Internet as a way to find sports scores, research for papers, or checking email.

Today, I’m all about technology and cling to my Blackberry often. I’m listening to songs on it, checking email, snapping photos, surfing the web, and…oh yeah – making phone calls too! Guess what? Kids are doing all the stuff I’m doing with their cell phones or PDA’s and they’re doing quicker, better, and one might conclude – with less of a purpose.

I say that because of the months I’ve spent digging into this “Sexting” trend. I spoke with one father over the last few weeks whose son was charged in criminal court for sexually explicit photos some girls sent him through text messages. This Dad wants to remain anonymous, and our conversations will remain off-the-record because he doesn’t want his son’s future ruined or further scrutinized. But one thing I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing is a conclusion he came to about technology in the hands of inherently curious teenagers.

He said something along the lines of, “when I was a curious teen and I came across a Playboy do you think I wouldn’t want to take a glance? Of course. Now imagine that Playboy is a cell phone?”

That sums it all up right there – for guys or girls exploring their own sexuality, the Internet and cell phones are tools. They’re right there in front of these teens. They use them to talk to each other, to text a message to mom so she knows when to pick them up after soccer practice, and to flirt or even bully each other.

Dr. Sam McQuade said something to me two months ago that still rattles around in my head. “By the time our younger generation hits the age of 18 many will have committed countless felony crimes and few will realize it.” Technology allows these kids to violate Copyright Laws by illegally downloading music. To innocently hack into restricted online areas. And yes, to possess, use, create, or share child pornography.

We don’t often think of it that way – and the problem is? The law does think of it that way. I don’t often editorialize about topics; I don’t want to stray from objectivity. But in this case, with the evidence presented to me, I have no other conclusion to draw – something must be done! New laws need to be created to take into account the roads technology is leading us down. Or old laws need to be modified; there needs to be a level of discretion inserted into the written law that prevents a curious teen exploring this technology from being ruined publicly by a law that never had that teen in mind when it was created.

That father’s son isn’t a criminal, for all intensive purposes he poses no substantial threat to society. But the law doesn’t see that. If he or she is 16, they might as well be 46 in the eyes of the law. And that “minor” that’s being “exploited” is often just a few months their junior. ..News Source.. by Sean Carroll