Teen Dating '08: Nude Pix On Cell Phones

Police Say Swapping X-Rated Photos To Flirt Common Among Teens

(AP)  Forget about passing notes in study hall; some teens are now using their cell phones to flirt and send nude pictures of themselves.

The instant text, picture and video messages have become part of some teens' courtship behavior, police and school officials said. The messages often spread quickly and sometimes find their way to public Web sites.

"I've seen everything from your basic striptease to sexual acts being performed," said Reynoldsburg police Detective Brian Marvin, a member of the FBI Cyber Crime Task Force of Central Ohio. "You name it, they will do it at their home under this perceived anonymity."

Westerville Central High School senior Jerome Ray said he's received such unsolicited messages, including one from a classmate while he was sitting with his girlfriend.

"A lot more girls are aggressive," said Ray, 18. "Some girls are crazy and they are putting themselves out there."

Candice Kelsey, a teacher from California, said some teenage girls think they have to be provocative to get boys' attention. As a result, they will send photos they hope their parents never see.

"This happens a lot," said Kelsey, author of Generation MySpace: Helping Your Teen Survive Online Adolescence. "It crosses every racial socio-economic group. Christian kids are doing it. Jewish kids are doing it."

Male teens are also doing it.

For instance, a central Ohio high school teen made a sexual cell phone video of himself and sent it to female classmates. One of the girls forward the Westerville South High School's video to at least 30 other people.

A study last year found teens are placing more of an emphasis on image and fame than in the past. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University who studies young people's trends, found that teens are more confident and assertive than ever before.

"Adolescents are not known for thinking things through - that's a generational constant," she said. "Now, with the technology that is out there, instead of taking a picture and passing it around the classroom, it's online, which is a whole different ball game. (Teens) don't see it that way."

Mark Raiff, a principal at Columbus' Olentangy Liberty High School, said some of his students and their cell phones have caused trouble.

"They don't see anything wrong with it," he said. "It leaves me speechless."

[Lamar154]

(My thought is why should adults control kids and teens. Why not just let us control the future our selves for ourselves? With law, order, balance, adults, parents, and rules All out of the way for the future generation)
I always thought what it would be like to not have adults control people with laws and rules, and for there to be no money. Many people would think I'm insane

[Lamar154]

*I think if you try to stop teens from doing this then they will just find more ways. The thing is there needs to be +a change. I'm not saying teens should or should not being doing this stuff. (This isn't the worst with teens)
*but instead give them choices, thousands of reasons why teens be doing this. (If I was to do this as a teen +would be because I hate being tolled what I can't and can do, or just to be tolled by all the grownups/ I don't *though). In Tacoma I don't see this going on, but instead hear it going on in places.


"+Just to say my BIG problem with this sort-of of stuff is not this phone stuff, no it is because of (((((satellite))))).
This saying about teens and cell phones has to do with privacy. Guess what, it already bin took-en. Might not for reasons like this cell phone thing going on. But with satellite people can watch u and other people. Government has a top satellite I bet that can see people in real time. They might not use it to see people doing there thing together. More like FBI, and etc other things "secret things of there plans of some other subject". but if some dude or group of people hacked a top satellite, that could be for pleasure er something." I'm going to stop because I feel like I don't know what I'm saying anymore but I wanted to get that off of my chest

[max_deployme]

It''s hilarious that this site won''t accept the word *** (secks). Sexuality is OK. Sexual? But not ***. ***, ***, ***. That''s ricockulous.

[cannoncl]

Sexuality has already been criminalized. Just ask the young people who have been convicted for having consensual *** with 15 and 16 year old boys or girls and or now on the registry for a lifetime. Don''t get caught urinating in public. In the state of Texas this will place you on the registry as well.

[cannoncl]

Be aware, as crazy as it is, if you are caught sending these pics you can be prosecuted. If you are prosecuted and are convicted you will find yourself on the *** offender registry. This is happening all over the country. It only takes one angry parent to see the photos and contact authorities for it to happen. Believe me it does happen.

[Lamar154]

Then what I think there should be a rampage or what ever its called when teens try to get all other teens to do this. That way teens can't be stopped be if the teens stand together all as one then the government is just going to have to take them all down. Fight for the right of getting rid of stupid law.

I'm 16 and have not done any of this cell phone stuff and not seen it going around where I live in Tacoma.
The thing about me saying things like this is because I'm tired of controlling grownups, law, rules, and orders, and not all of it just some of it.

[Lamar154]

not rampage but strike

[rf35]

While I don''t have a problem with the pictures they choose to send each other, I do have a problem with the cell phones being used in school. I''d like to see cell phone jammers placed on school campuses (as well as in sit-down restaurants and movie theaters). That solves the problem of sending pics, texts, etc. in school. The content of those pictures are the business of sender and recipient, not society as a whole. Just because the Religious Reich are ashamed of their bodies doesn''t mean these people should be. The whole "legal age" krap is outdated, too. Laws regarding teen sexuality need to be revisited and updated to reflect today''s realities. While 50 year old weirdoes wanking off to pictures of pre-pubescent girls (or boys) and then going out to find one of their own is rightly criminal, 15, 16, 17 year olds seeing each other should not be.

BTW, why are these %u201Cadults%u201D in the article so interested in these pics? Isn%u2019t it be them who are breaking the law by looking at the teens?

Now, let the flaming begin%u2026.

[Lamar154]

If not in school then outside of school they will still send pictures.

[jackp32]

Where oh where are the parents of these irresponsible teenies?

[Lamar154]

Many parents these days don't care but then again there are hundreds that do but teens kids and all still get away

[libsrweak]

hey just like what the liberals say.."dont blame me, its the (insert item)"

so when a child gets raped..hey dont blame the girl..its the clothing she was wearing..

hey dont blame that boy..its the gun..

hey dont blame the parent..they are too busy with something else..

we are doomed

[Lamar154]

hey don't blame death... its science..
(I have no clue what I'm saying. Probably because its summer)

[fmpastortodd]

While it can''t be said for all, this type of behavior can be nixed in the home, by interacting with your children and teaching them values and morals. we in America have gotten away from that.

[Lamar154]

not all families do that. But I do somewhat agree

I thought Schools were for the purpose of schooling the Nations youth in ''''readin, ''''ritin and ''''rithmitic now they appear to be a training ground for sleaze. Ban cell phones in all schools.

Posted by peninsulapar at 12:15 PM : Apr 15, 2008

An admirable sentiment.... but try convincing parents and school boards to actually BAN them!! THAT''s the challenge.

[nyckate]

raymonddemps

sexually explicit pictures of underage kids is against the law. Publishing them on-line is a criminal act.

What don''t you get about that?? Its not about their sexuality - well not really - but it is about safety. WTFU

[Lamar154]

safety of what? I feel just angry now. Many many many teens including me sortof are not explained of this safety, procedure thing, and why. Probably is another reason why teens do this because it's not explained well enough. since I'm a teen can you explain this more to me?

Terrorizing kids by saying that the police will make them official *** offenders for life; and threatening to charge them with child pornography (because the kids'' nudes are of themselves: children) is pretty scary. Do kids need to be more self-conscious?

no predators, no adults, no internet: just kids expressing kids'' sexuality. are we trying to criminalize sexuality?

Terrorizing kids by saying that the police will make them official *** offenders for life; and threatening to charge them with child pornography (because the kids'' nudes are of themselves: children) is pretty scary. Do kids need to be more self-conscious?

no predators, no adults, no internet: just kids expressing kids'' sexuality. are we trying to criminalize sexuality?

Terrorizing kids by saying that the police will make them official *** offenders for life; and threatening to charge them with child pornography (because the kids'' nudes are of themselves: children) is pretty scary. Do kids need to be more self-conscious?

no predators, no adults, no internet: just kids expressing kids'' sexuality. are we trying to criminalize sexuality?

[peninsulapar]

I thought Schools were for the purpose of schooling the Nations youth in ''readin, ''ritin and ''rithmitic now they appear to be a training ground for sleaze. Ban cell phones in all schools.

[gmond]

In every generation, no matter what the consequences, kids got it and they''re gonna flaunt it. This is also part of today''s kids viewing dating as archaic and sexuality being no big deal - I seriously wonder if that attitude isn''t just a bit healthier than fearing gossip and the wrath of god about being a virgin or having a reputation.

[zoroeltoro]

What''s the big deal? I heard people saying that phones with cameras should not be sold to kids under 18. As if that''s going to change their behavior.

How about teaching kids the proper values and being an example of morality? If they don''t use the phones, then they will use digital cameras and the internet, which is worse. Back in the day it was the polaroid.

Teen pregnancies are down for the first time in decades. Maybe this activity is a good thing.

[bobnjersey]

[Why must all you make this political. If you want to blame Dems or Reps, you have to choose Dems. They are the ones who have elimated capital punishment. If you can correct you children, and they no it, what are the consequents? NONE. Welcome to the new USSA!]
[Posted by bigwallyt at 07:20 AM : Apr 15, 2008]

capital punishment? since when does this work as a deterent for kids doing kids stuff?

i assume you are aware that actual capital punishment has been banned in nearly every country. maybe if we went back to the days of ''trial by ordeal'' or even ''quartering'' we''d have less deviant behaviour.

[bobnjersey]

[My kids don;t have cell phones I don''''t have one.We have a house phone and we are kicking like everyone else.]
[Posted by Swwils at 07:36 AM : Apr 15, 2008]

it''s not one of those old black ones w/ a rotary dial, is it? do you own it ... or are you still leasing?

[swwils]

I''m saying if the parents would make these kids who are doing this pay their own cell phone bill,I bet a lot of that will quit.When they have to get a job and pay for their Text messaging,their sending pictures, then they would get the big picture.

[Lamar154]

wrong again. They end up getting a job and still taking pictures for some. (I'm just ready for a change)