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Teens Sending X-Rated Photos on Phones

AP
Posted: 2008-04-14 16:23:23
Filed Under: Nation News
(April 14) - 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.

Teen takes a photo with a cell phone camera
Getty Images

"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."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-04-14 15:06:29
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1 - 10 of 1867
1867 comments

potterishsloth 05:00:13 PM Jun 29 2008

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WOOT first comment from an article from april!

truwajwa 08:23:43 PM Apr 16 2008

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If an adult male is found with an underage girls phone picture, should he be charged with having child porn?

truwajwa 08:22:45 PM Apr 16 2008

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If the young girls are sending x-rated pictures, they are engaging in child porn, and should be arrested.

thiscailing 07:08:32 PM Apr 16 2008

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Teenagers aren't the only ones, this goes on with adults just as much as teenagers, if not more.. do more research before pointing fingers.

dabe405 06:09:21 PM Apr 16 2008

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THATS THE PROBLEM WITH THESE KIDS NOW. THEY HAVE TOO MUCH GOING ON WITH THEM. PHONES,INTERNET,AND ETC. ETC. THE PARENTS NEED TO PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS ON SOME OF THIS. TALK TO UR CHILD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH SENDING PICTURES LIKE THAT TO PEOPLE.

pinkgurlie1106 05:26:46 PM Apr 16 2008

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okayy. im a teen and i have sent pics to this boy i lyked and then they got all over school, but its not the girls, the guys pressure them so muchh, they sayy ohh ur not cool if u dont do this, but u have to let every1 make ther own mistakes.

pinkgurlie1106 05:25:44 PM Apr 16 2008

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okayy. im a teen and i have sent pics to this boy i lyked and then they got all over school, but its not the girls, the guys pressure them so muchh, they sayy ohh ur not cool if u dont do this, but u have to let every1 make ther own mistakes.

bjhubbabubba 04:01:56 PM Apr 16 2008

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I,M SURE THE TEEN ARE,NT PAYING THE BILL ....THE PARENTS ARE PAYING THE BILL.....SO BE IT......SO WHAT

punkinpie38 03:22:27 PM Apr 16 2008

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the only thing this article has done is increase the activity. THATS ALL

lal08kb12004 03:10:31 PM Apr 16 2008

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to radiogirl82085:

wow thats one of the dumbest ideas ive ever heard. teens can do whatever they want with their phones and if you wanna take away their phones they will just do e-mails or myspace. thatg doesnt solve any problems at all and only pisses people off..

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