What did we do before text messaging came along? Countless misunderstandings, steamy affairs and harsh breakups have been the unfortunate results of text messages.
Face - to - face talking has become a rarity, replaced by cheeky ways of flirting ...
New research shows "sexting", not "texting" is becoming more common and teens exchanging sexual images on their cellphones are now being prosecuted.
28% are in grades 10-12
26% are in grades 7-9
12% are grades 4-6
"Sexting" which involves sending sexy photos from phone to phone is a dangerous trend.
The teen engages in "sexting", a term for a kind of text messaging that often involves sending erotic, nude pictures from phone to phone, a trend that's been making headlines across the country.
A teenager, 18-year old Melanie Young says everyone is doing it. "It's like flirting and just having a little fun," says Young.
Young says, "I don't pose nude, but I do send pictures and get pictures and my brother says he gets pictures all day long."
In a suburb of Scranton, Pennsylvania police confiscated the cellphones of 5 students between the ages of 11 and 17.
16-year-old John Sciabica of Webster, New York is now facing 2 felony charges for similar circumstances.
Wayne County sheriff's investigators say Sciabica enticed a 15-year-old girl into sms texting him sexually explicit photos and a movie of herself. They say he forwarded these to friends. They charged him as an adult with crimes that carry maximum penalties of 4 and 7 years in state prison.
Experts say that "sexting" is becoming an all too common practice for many teenagers, who often think it's "no big deal" to send racy photos via email or sms text. Many consider it nothing more than sending a flirty note.
According to researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology, almost one-third of teens in grades 10-12 have sent or received sexual content online and they use cell phones. For children in grades 4-6, that number is still one in ten.
Attorneys like Dallas lawyer, Clint David say the practice is trouble waiting to happen. "It is the height of insanity to take a picture of yourself naked and send it to another person", says David. At least one teenager has landed in jail because of his alleged actions involving "sexting."
A 16-year old Pennsylvania boy was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography after police say he coaxed a 15-year old girl into sending him explicit pictures.
David says prosecutors can easily use felony laws written to punish pedophiles against teens who send or receive provocative messages. "The bottom line is kids don't do this, if you have pictures hit delete."
Young says a friend sent a nude picture to a boy she barely knew and it ended up being seen by every student in three schools. "You need to know the pros and cons before you send the message," says Young.
"Sexting" teenagers say they are quickly finding out that what was meant for one set of eyes is often revealed to the world.
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