Sexting
Waukesha students carry, send naked pictures
Spectator staff
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
The weekly awkward hello to your teenage crush is long gone; now teenagers are sexting.
Waukesha police and school officials are urging parents to check for naked pictures on their children's cell phones, according to a Feb. 17 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
The issue arose after a Waukesha West High School 14-year-old's ex-boyfriend forwarded a naked picture of her to hundreds of high school students from his cell phone. Police are considering charging those involved with felony possession of child pornography.
The school district sent parents a message, asking them to talk to their children and check their phones for inappropriate pictures.
The high school's principal, Melissa Thompson, said they have had information sessions on cyber bullying and internet safety, but they've always had a low turnout. She even heard parents saying, "checking through their child's phone or going through instant messages is like going through a journal."
Parents need to realize a journal and naked pictures are two different things, and they have different repercussions.
If the police do pursue felony charges for child pornography, this can be life-changing for these teenagers, and the ramifications would be serious.
However, it would also help to set an example to deter people from doing this.
The school has taken the right measure by offering the information sessions, but teachers can't go through the students' cell phones, as they are private property.
Parents should talk to their children about sending inappropriate pictures, and they have every right to go through their cell phones.
If parents are not up-to-date with technology, they need to attend these sessions.
This type of parenting doesn't stop just because a parent doesn't know how to handle technology, even when they are possibly the ones paying for the cell phone services.
There's much that police and schools can do, but this kind of education needs to start at home.
Waukesha police and school officials are urging parents to check for naked pictures on their children's cell phones, according to a Feb. 17 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
The issue arose after a Waukesha West High School 14-year-old's ex-boyfriend forwarded a naked picture of her to hundreds of high school students from his cell phone. Police are considering charging those involved with felony possession of child pornography.
The school district sent parents a message, asking them to talk to their children and check their phones for inappropriate pictures.
The high school's principal, Melissa Thompson, said they have had information sessions on cyber bullying and internet safety, but they've always had a low turnout. She even heard parents saying, "checking through their child's phone or going through instant messages is like going through a journal."
Parents need to realize a journal and naked pictures are two different things, and they have different repercussions.
If the police do pursue felony charges for child pornography, this can be life-changing for these teenagers, and the ramifications would be serious.
However, it would also help to set an example to deter people from doing this.
The school has taken the right measure by offering the information sessions, but teachers can't go through the students' cell phones, as they are private property.
Parents should talk to their children about sending inappropriate pictures, and they have every right to go through their cell phones.
If parents are not up-to-date with technology, they need to attend these sessions.
This type of parenting doesn't stop just because a parent doesn't know how to handle technology, even when they are possibly the ones paying for the cell phone services.
There's much that police and schools can do, but this kind of education needs to start at home.
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