Spring Break
Sexting isn't innocent - do at your own risk
Sarah Paeth
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Forum
It's a hot day, and you're sunbathing in a scantily clad swimsuit in your secluded backyard. Just for kicks, you snap a picture of your chest and text it to your boyfriend.
Is this just a silly prank - or is it child pornography?
Sexting, an increasing trend where people take nude or semi-nude photos of themselves and send them via cell phone to others, is a movement that has swept the nation by storm. According to a survey conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy last December, one-fifth of teenagers admitted to texting or posting inappropriate photos of themselves online.
If you think college students are above such bold displays, guess again.
Sexting doesn't just apply to high schoolers; according to the same survey, one-third of 20 to 26-year-olds stated that they had taken part in sending or posting nude photos of themselves as well.
Whether this behavior is amusing or abusing is the question that faces jurors in regards to a local Oregon case of sexting taken too far.
The incident, which occurred in Newport last April, involved a group of teen girls and a 30-year-old man, David Michael Guy Simpson. According to eyewitnesses, Simpson encouraged his dog to have oral contact in an inappropriate area with a drunken female who was 16 at the time. Another minor thought the act was humorous, later claiming, "I thought this was funny so I recorded it on my cell phone."
The 45-second video clip circulated to at least one other cell phone belonging to 18-year-old Jesse Duane Carey.
Carey, Simpson and the girl that shot the video were taken into custody and charged with varying degrees of using a child in sexually explicit content, sexual abuse, encouraging sexual abuse and encouraging child pornography.
If found guilty, Simpson and the girl face several years in prison. Also, all three will be required to register as sex offenders if convicted.
Maybe everyone was intoxicated. Maybe everyone thought it was funny.
Is this just a silly prank - or is it child pornography?
Sexting, an increasing trend where people take nude or semi-nude photos of themselves and send them via cell phone to others, is a movement that has swept the nation by storm. According to a survey conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy last December, one-fifth of teenagers admitted to texting or posting inappropriate photos of themselves online.
If you think college students are above such bold displays, guess again.
Sexting doesn't just apply to high schoolers; according to the same survey, one-third of 20 to 26-year-olds stated that they had taken part in sending or posting nude photos of themselves as well.
Whether this behavior is amusing or abusing is the question that faces jurors in regards to a local Oregon case of sexting taken too far.
The incident, which occurred in Newport last April, involved a group of teen girls and a 30-year-old man, David Michael Guy Simpson. According to eyewitnesses, Simpson encouraged his dog to have oral contact in an inappropriate area with a drunken female who was 16 at the time. Another minor thought the act was humorous, later claiming, "I thought this was funny so I recorded it on my cell phone."
The 45-second video clip circulated to at least one other cell phone belonging to 18-year-old Jesse Duane Carey.
Carey, Simpson and the girl that shot the video were taken into custody and charged with varying degrees of using a child in sexually explicit content, sexual abuse, encouraging sexual abuse and encouraging child pornography.
If found guilty, Simpson and the girl face several years in prison. Also, all three will be required to register as sex offenders if convicted.
Maybe everyone was intoxicated. Maybe everyone thought it was funny.
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