Todays Technology Hosts New Problems to Figure Out

Whether it's "sexting" or posting inappropriate images online, cell phones and the internet make it easier to exploit our youth and overwhelming to keep track of. Sexting is when you send sexually suggestive text messages with your cell phone. It is becoming a huge problem with teenagers and now they are even looking at charging some with child pornography. There is also the case of a 14 year old girl in New Jersey who posted over 30 pictures of herself on MySpace that were sexually explicit, all becuase she wanted her boyfriend to see them. She was arrested and charged with child pornography and distribution. If she is convicted, she would have to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. The woman behind Megan's Law, whose daughter it is named for does not think this is right. The law was not designed for people like her. Maybe she shouldn't be charged under Megan's Law, but what should happen? She probably does need some counseling, but mostly a lot of parenting. There needs to be a punishment of some sorts or a procedure in place to deal with this problem. It's scary how many cases there are, and no one knows how to deal with them. Three young girls in yet another state are facing the same issues after sending photos to the boys at school with their cell phone. Another girl committed suicide after her ex boyfriend shared racy photos of her with others. We should know what our children are posting on the web, what networking sites they are using and checking their cell phones. Not only is this risky behavior, but the emotions involved are intense. The humilation behind someone sseing the pictures or messages who wasn't supposed to can be too much, especially as a teenager. Trying to monitor what are children are doing can be time consuming and stressful, but look at the alternatives.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29912729/from/ET/

Her teen committed suicide over "sexting"
The perils of teens electronically exchanging suggestive messages were driven home by Cynthia Logan, whose daughter Jesse took her own life at 18 after being taunted over a photo meant only for her boyfriend. "She was being tortured," said the teen's heartbroken mom.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29546030/from/ET/