A big issue about 'sexting' seems to be the huge moral dilemma surrounding child pornography. I think we can all agree on one thing, no matter what you're background, and that is that child pornography is wrong, gross, and just plain fucked up. However, I do not feel you can go around charging a 16 year old kid for child pornography because his 16 girlfriend sent him a nude picture of herself. Technically, yes this is child pornography, but it was sent to him with full consent and trust that he would not share it with anyone, unless the girl clearly stated otherwise.
Now say the boy decided to send this picture to some of his friends, maybe his older brother or something, who is 19. Now the boyfriend has committed the crime of distributing child pornography, as it was against the girls will to have anyone else see the picture. The girl could suffer harm if these pictures were to circulate around their school or work or whatever, as she may be ostracized by other people.
The main point I am trying to make is that sexting could be either a harmless photo sent between a couple with trust, or it could turn into a serious crime. This issue is growing larger because, for some strange reason, parents feel the need to get their kids cell phones at younger ages. What the hell does a 7 year old need a phone for anyway? If this trend of toddlers with cell phones continues, then 'Sexting' could grow into a huge legal issue.
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This is true on many levels, young adults should have their privacy protected. We constantly run around telling kids to act more mature, and when they get into trouble for doing things that are private, they simply get to the court system and lead to legal problems. We need to protect our children from individuals who prey on young children. At 16 the age of consent in most states, the issue of child porn among individuals of the same age should not apply.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brandon's post because the societal moral level seems to be decreasing over time. In the 1950's, girls were still expected to wear long skirts and dresses and tops that revealed little to no skin. Virginity was something that was cherished and expected to be held onto until marriage. Now, Abercrombie sells thongs out of their kid store which sells clothes to fit children as young as 5. Virginity is held onto just past middle school. With morals changing constantly, the laws that punish seem to be too harsh. Even a law that was created a decade ago can be out of date due to time's changing. It's hard for morality to not play a role in the law as much as it does but it continues and will continue to be an issue that the United States and other countries will have a hard time seperating.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brandon on this one along with Brad. I don't think it should be an issue when individuals are the same age and it is consensual between both parties. However, it could become a bigger issue than that. For instance, recently my dad found pictures my 16 year old brother had of his girlfriend and she was naked in them. My dad ended up talking to a family friend of ours who is a lawyer and it turns out, if for some reason someone found out about these pictures, my dad would be charged with possession of child pornography because these pictures were in his house. Even though the girlfriend willingly took these pictures for my brother and they were for his eyes alone, my dad could potentially get in big trouble for their behavior, even though he was completely clueless about it.
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