Sexting is a fairly new concept. It was brought up a few years ago when the government found out about kids sending naked pictures of themselves to each other. After a few incidents the government decided to punish those kids who were doing this. In Florida specifically they have made this illegal. So what do I about this situation and the law?
I believe that it is no ones fault for the actions of these kids. Parents are always telling their kids whats right and what's wrong, but sometimes kids do thing knowing that is wrong. In my opinion many of these kids that are involved in sexting is because they have been tempted by their significant other or they simply have no shame. I do not seem to understand why kids do this, but my best guess is that they would never think this picture or message would be sent to other people. The problem starts when the picture or message is sent, but continue and becomes more serious when the message is sent to friends of friends.
Distribution of naked or vulgar messages to a group of people is considered porn. This itself is already bad, but when the distribution involves a minor the conseuences are much worst. Adults who decide to distribute child pornography are labeled sexual offenders. This seems to me like a fair charge. My real thought revolves around the idea that kids who are involved in the distribution of sext messages should be charged.
I am not completely comfortable with the idea that these kids are being charged as sexual offenders, in states like Florida where this is illegal. After all the teenagers are openly choosing to send these pictures or messages knowing that they are risking being seen by other people. If they feel they can send these pictures or messages I would think they are old enough to think of the consequences of their acrtions. I definitely believe they should be charges with a crime, but not as a sexual offenders. Eventually as these teenagers become adults being labeled as sexual offenders is the right thing to do. Florida is doing the right thing giving these kids chances before it becomes a crime. If all the states implement this law I am sure some kids might think twice about what they decide to send to another person.
Implementing such a law is great, but it will not be effective unless kids no about it. The government must find a way to let the kids know about this law, so that some of this sexting could stop. Besides making a law another solution to this problem can be involving the parents. If parents make it their point to be more aware about what their kids are doing and be willing to look through their childrens phone if they suspect foul play. In some cases this might work, but in many it will not.
Bottom line is that sexting is going to keep occurring no matter what the government and the parents do, but the best thing to do is at least give it a try.
