We went to Sioux Falls for Andrew's basketball tournament this weekend. The boys spent Sunday morning at the mall and got interviewed by the local news station. Below is the interview. I am working on getting the video from it. My boys are so responsible.
Matt Johnson checks in with teens in Sioux Falls to see how they feel about sexting.
Cell phones, they're the lifeline of today's teenager.
Felix says "I don't know how I would get around without it."
Andrew says "I'm on it like every minute, like I'm always texting people and stuff."
There's texting and then there's sexting, taking and sending explicit photos by phone or over the internet. It's happening all over the country, and that's the problem. In many states, sexting between people can be considered possessing or distributing child pornography, a charge that can land them on the sex offender registry. Lawyers in some states, such as Ohio and Vermont, are trying to change that.
Lawyer says "We've heard evidence of up to 20 percent of America's teens are sexting, and I certainly don't want 20 percent of America's teens being charged with child pornography."
Here in South Dakota, some teens think in today's text-savvy world, a picture sent out, could end up anywhere.
Felix says "If they wanna have their pictures on the whole net, I mean, somebody is able to get access to that."
Even if the picture is sent to a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Felix says "It's never safe if you even just send it to one person."
Some feel that while sexting can have dangerous consequences, they feel the punishment doesn't fit the crime.
Andrew says "It shouldn't be something you should have to make illegal."
The issue of sexting isn't going to be deleted from the message box, and as teenagers continue to use technology as much as ever, the laws and awareness regarding sexting warrant a closer look. Matt Johnson, KDLT News. Police say the investigation in Brookings continues in the case involving a male and female, ages 16 and 17. The state's attorney will decide whether charges should be considered.
16 years ago
