The term “Sexting” is getting a lot of buzz lately, and this provocative word describes what can be a dangerous problem, particularly for teens. It is also against the law in Texas.
Sexting was a finalist for word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary. It is officially defined as “sending of sexually explicit texts and pictures by cellphone”.
News channel 10 in Amarillo recently did a report on sexting, and the dangers posed to teens. Those dangers can include serious legal consequences up to and including felony sex offenses for sending sexually explicit photos to a minor, even if you are a minor yourself.
It is easy to argue that this kind of activity between consenting persons, even if they are minors, shouldn’t evoke the same kind of penalties designed for sexual predators. But those laws are still on the books. And even a conviction on a lesser sex offense can lead to lifetime registration requirements as a convicted sex offender.
These dangers probably don’t seem obvious to most teens, who think they are engaging in harmless fun, but they are all too real.
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Sexting is more popular than you think. You need to remember that these messages do not self destruct. They are out there for other people to see and share. Laws do apply.