Ask any teen what his or her favorite accessory is, and the answer will be the cell phone. Today's cell phones are equipped with the ability to do multiple tasks. Among the capabilities are digital camera and digital video features. Mixed these features with texting, and the potential for criminal activity may increase.
The Teenager's Brain
David Walsh, Ph.D is a renowned psychologist whose specialty is adolescent brain development. Walsh’s book, Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen [Free Press, 2005] provides readers with the reasoning for teen decision making. He contends that teen prefrontal cortex has not finished developing. "The circuits that are under construction during the teen years have to do with impulse control, management of aggression, emotional regulation, self regulation – a lot of 'executive functions' of the brain,” (CBS, 2009). Because teen brains are still developing, teens tend to act impulsively, without regard to future consequences.
Cell Phone Features and Real Life
Cell phones have the ability to take still pictures and videos. Phones have the storage capacity to save hundreds of still photos and several short videos. Typically, the photos are used as wallpaper or picture message. Photos and videos are stored until deleted from the phone. Additionally, cell phones integrate the feature of typing a message and sending via phone. This is called texting.
Sexting and Teens
Sexting is a new term that combines texting and sending sexually explicit photos. As previously mentioned, teens do not always think through how their actions lead to consequences. Some teens are taking nude pictures of themselves using a cell phone. These photos are then sent to a girlfriend/boyfriend to keep as a private gift. Unfortunately, the photos are sent to others either by accident or as revenge. Once the photo or video is sent to another via the cell phone, this is sexting and potentially illegal.
Pornography and Cell Phones
Because the issue of sexting is relatively new, federal agencies are scrabbling to determine if sexting constitutes an illegal activity. Federal law 18 U.S.C. §2256 defines child pornography, yet sexting seems to be a gray area of prosecution. Recently, a Wisconsin teen made national news after sending a nude picture of his former teen girlfriend to friends. Each person that received the sexting and opened it and/or forwarded it may also be charged with child pornography.
While the majority of teens are not participating in photographing themselves nude and sexting, many are aware of such pictures existing and may even have received such pictures. Participating in receiving and/or sending/forwarding such photos may lead to a future conviction of child pornography. Parents need to be aware that such events may be occurring and to check teen cell phones periodically for proper use. Also, parents need to talk to their teens about proper cell phone use and reporting abuse immediately. This is one way to continue to keep teens save. For more suggestions on teen cell phone use, please visit the article Cell Phones and Today's Teens.
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