Cell Phone 'Sexting' A Problem, Teens Say

The popularity of cell phone text messaging has led to a new and controversial trend for students and parents on Portalnd-area high schools.

[Susan]

Why don't they just take away the damn cell phones from EVERYONE??? What did people do before cells? TALK ON PHONES OR IN PERSON. There's no human contact anymore. The phones are turning kids into morons; morons = trouble ahead.

[Patti]

I personally find the cell phone very useful. I am always able to contact my daughter - as she me - whenever! However the sexting should be classified as a "criminal" offense and prosecuted.

[Michelle Pelton]

I think cell phones should be used for emergancy use only for people under the age of 18, it should only dial your parents and 911. As for the sexting it should stop, but I'm not sure about criminal action to taken.

[ABC]

if parents are so worried about their kids texting inappropriate pictures or messages the parents should just block the text messeging on their kids plan. That way you wont have to worry about this kind of stuff!!

[A parent]

Depending on the age of the person in the picture, it is already illegal. A naked photo of a minor is child pornography. Even if the minor sent it. In PA it's a felony 3 or higher.

[Bree]

yeah it is a problem because when kids send nude pictures the kid they sent it to will probably send it to his friends and so on.

[captain obvious]

didn't we have the same problem when people first started emailing? i know my porn collection doubled thanks to all the email attachments my friends would send me.

[Randal]

Kids have become more and more sexual at younger ages, thanks to societal influences like MTV and Hip-hop, along with sexualized role models presented to them like Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, etc. Combine this with poor young decision making skills, youthful daring, the pseudo anonymousness of the internet and the availability of technology and this pornographic exhibitionism is what we get. No child under the age of 18 should have a digital camera or a cell phone capable of taking pictures. And parents need to be more diligent in monitoring what their kids are doing –particularly their young hot daughters. Look at what’s on their phones that they have been taking and sending. Demand to see their MySpace, etc… If you don’t do it no one else is going to. Think the boys are going to say,“Hey, hot young girl, please stop sending me naked pics of yourself”? Not likely.

[Redneck]

Randal wrote:

Kids have become more and more sexual at younger ages, thanks to societal influences like MTV and Hip-hop, along with sexualized role models presented to them like Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, etc. Combine this with poor young decision making skills, youthful daring, the pseudo anonymousness of the internet and the availability of technology and this pornographic exhibitionism is what we get. No child under the age of 18 should have a digital camera or a cell phone capable of taking pictures. And parents need to be more diligent in monitoring what their kids are doing –particularly their young hot daughters. Look at what’s on their phones that they have been taking and sending. Demand to see their MySpace, etc… If you don’t do it no one else is going to. Think the boys are going to say,“Hey, hot young girl, please stop sending me naked pics of yourself”? Not likely.

You got it right.....shame the majority of people don't get it.

[Donna]

Right on Randal. Parents today are so worried about keeping up with everyone and giving their kids the perfect opportunity to make bad decisions. If kids need a phone, place restrictions on them and don't buy the fanciest phone because their friends have it. GROW UP PARENTS and act like you care about your children.

[Randal]

This isn’t just a problem in Portland. It’s everywhere, in every single community where there are young kids and technology today. And it’s not just “bad” kids.
If you’ve never done it, go take a look at your kids’ MySpace (and their second MySpace that they didn’t tell you about). There you will find endless references, both overt and covert, to things sexual, often accompanied with other “adult” things like drug references and suggestive photos and videos. They toss around terms like “sexi” and think nothing of openly talking about “hooking up”, often to total strangers or other kids they normally wouldn’t approach or associate with in person or in school. Often even normally reserved kids adopt online personas that many parents would find unrecognizable and shocking. Kids see the anonymity as insulating and their brains fail to consider the real world implications of what they say, post and do online. They really think there is some disconnect between their online and real worlds.
In addition to their ever being bombarded with sexual imagery in the Entertainment Industry, there too are metaphysical reasons at play here as well. See, children under the age of about 18-20 have an underdeveloped section of their brains called the Prefrontal Cortex. This is the part of the brain associated with risk taking. It is responsible for emotional control, impulse restraint and rational decision making –things commonly referred to as “maturity”. Until the PC matures kids are largely incapable of properly weighing and contemplating ramifications and consequences for their actions. That’s what parents are for. Additionally, thanks to things like growth hormones in milk, kids bodies are developing at an earlier stage. So it’s like they’re a bunch of 14 year olds with 18 year old bodies but the decision making skills of a 12 year old. Seriously! It’s a dangerous mix that’s just asking for trouble. Add easily accessible technology and what they see and hear on TV and Music and it’s no wonder we’re seeing kids carrying on like this. It’s really rather remarkable that more kids don’t end up getting into sexual trouble or worse.

[stardog]

Why is the government involved? Are you that big of a sheep?

[stardog]

Oh, i forgot,Randal get back in your closet.

[doctor johnson]

to "a parent" nude photos aren't pornography, pornography is pornography. sexual acts depicted in photos is pornography.a nude body shouldn't at all be considered porn.

[Randal]

Try telling the cops that nude pic on your computer of an under age girl shouldn't be considered porn and see what they say.

[Mike]

Randall, you may have a point that young people have poor decision-making skills, but your suggestion that "No child under the age of 18 should have a digital camera or a cell phone capable of taking pictures" is flat out stupid. You should take the time to educate and talk to your children about the repercussions of their actions rather than just take away all the technology that has many applications beyond the pornographic. It is exactly the same as funding abstinence programs in school (when you know kids will still have sex) instead of giving them condoms and showing them how to do so responsibly. Your righteous "father knows best" attitude is exactly the problem; you are giving children an excuse to be ignorant (and with that a desire to go against your arbitrary rules) instead of helping them develop a mode of thinking and morality based upon reasoning, consequences, and individual responsibility. Promptly remove the stick from your anus and teach your kids how to adapt to the world as it is rather try to ignore its existence.

[Trina]

Why any phone needs to have camera is beyond me. It's just stupid.

[BillyBoy]

As far as I am concerned these kids are a direct product of there up bringing. IF they feel they can get away with it, they'll do it!

Were are the parents and the parental supervision at?
Why don't the parents do there job and monitor there childs actions, check the phones when they get home, monitor the cell-phone bill, turn off the texting.

As far as I am concerned poor parenting is just as much at fault as anything else.

MANY, not all, but many, of todays parents do not spend the necessary time needed with there children. Yet, when the child does something wrong, they blame "society" for the actions?

IF you want to have children, make sure you raise them properly!

[Oh OK]

Randal wrote:

Kids have become more and more sexual at younger ages, thanks to societal influences like MTV and Hip-hop, along with sexualized role models presented to them like Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, etc. Combine this with poor young decision making skills, youthful daring, the pseudo anonymousness of the internet and the availability of technology and this pornographic exhibitionism is what we get. No child under the age of 18 should have a digital camera or a cell phone capable of taking pictures. And parents need to be more diligent in monitoring what their kids are doing –particularly their young hot daughters. Look at what’s on their phones that they have been taking and sending. Demand to see their MySpace, etc… If you don’t do it no one else is going to. Think the boys are going to say,“Hey, hot young girl, please stop sending me naked pics of yourself”? Not likely.

agreed - every generation has its 'thing' so to speak, but man, these kids are just sexualized at such a young age its just creepy.
You have kids shows called Bratz to MTV's my super sweer 16 to the media just tearing anyone who is young and famous. Maybe my comment is a bit off the story, but sextexting or whatever its called is just another example of how impersonal and how dumbed down our society is becoming.
C U soon ttly BFF.... LOL ..OMG when will it end .... <wink>

[NoPhoneFreak]

What is wrong with parents today?,,,,what a question,,,the answers right in your face,,Your kids. They are an example of who You are. Why not Duct Tape a cellphone to your ear,,,,,,better yet,,,have one implanted in your brain,,when it rings,,your brain will vibrate,,sounds exciting ,,huh?....Childrens time used on phones, and all calls should be checked. If your child is spending Too much time on the cellphone,,Take it away. duh