Parent: Topless photo of female student circulating among students at Northland middle school

[pstokely]

Source: KSHB

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A parent contacted 41 Action News after learning from her daughter that an inappropriate picture of another student was being shared over a social networking site.

41 Action News has learned an eighth grade student at New Mark Middle School discovered a private picture she sent another student ended up on an Instagram photo feed.

We contacted the North Kansas City School District about the incident. A spokesperson told me since it didn't happen on school grounds or with school equipment, there is nothing they can do.

After several phone calls, we got a hold of the teen accused of sharing the nude photo. We are not identifying him because he is a minor, but he said he received the picture from another student and he deleted it. He said he didn't share it.



Read more: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/local_news/a-north-kansas-city-middle-school-student-caught-sharing-nude-photographs-of-another-student

[liberal N proud]

1. When you send something to others, you lose total control over what happens to it.

This girl sent this picture to someone, who obviously was not the friend she thought she was because they shared it with others.

If you don't want to risk exposure, don't share!

[Sherman A1]

4. Precisely

However, we have all made bad decisions in our lives, today's technology just makes the results of some of those bad decisions more instantaneous as in this case.

The best that can come out of this in my opinion is a teachable moment for those that will listen and perhaps not allow themselves to be in the same situation in the future.

[KansDem]

2. Thanks for the thread, pstokely...

This and your other thread about child porn and St. Ann Parish in Independence shows that "Ev'rythin's not up to date in Kansas City."

[ReRe]

9. Same as you;....

...sure have been hearing allot of hell-in-a-hand-basket stories coming out of Kansas City recently. Anyone else notice that?

[Fantastic Anarchist]

3. Unfortunately, that cat is out of the bag ...

Geez, I bet it's tougher to be a teenager in this day and age then when I was. Now, everything is pretty much public. At least when I was young, we stood a chance.

The only thing now would be to provide massive amounts of support to the girl. Help her get through the storm, as it were. Like everything else on the internet, this will become old hat. Her family and friends will hopefully be there for her throughout this time.

[marshall]

5. And take away her cell phone

That would help. Or at least disable the camera.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

6. Hopefully, she learns from this.

I'm not sure taking the camera/phone away would do any good. I doubt she makes this same mistake again.

[Posteritatis]

50. Any interest in the people who wronged her learning anything?

People are curiously silent on that angle.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

53. Of course, but my first and foremost concern was how she deals with this.

I'm interested in her family and friends giving her all the support she needs.

[Chakab]

7. Thank god that internet wasn't what it is today when I was in grade school.

There are so many different ways to embarrass yourself that can't be erased from the digital record.

On topic, the child who put the photo on the Instagram feed and the girl in the picture could both end up facing kiddie porn charges irrespective of their ages if the DA in her area is as overzealous as some others are in other parts of the country.

[alp227]

24. Most likely this action could be a class A felony.

Assuming this girl is 12-14 years of age as an 8th grader:

MO statute 573.025 :

1. A person commits the crime of promoting child pornography in the first degree if such person possesses with the intent to promote or promotes child pornography of a child less than fourteen years of age or obscene material portraying what appears to be a child less than fourteen years of age.

2. Promoting child pornography in the first degree is a class B felony unless the person knowingly promotes such material to a minor, in which case it is a class A felony. No person who pleads guilty to or is found guilty of, or is convicted of, promoting child pornography in the first degree shall be eligible for probation, parole, or conditional release for a period of three calendar years.

So apparently the kids who forwarded the nude photo to other kids could face 10 to 30 years behind bars if they're convicted of a class A felony (see sentencing guidelines). And the girl's action of taking a nude photo of herself is technically a class B felony (punishable by 5-15 years imprisonment).

That's if the DA tries them as adults. However if they're tried as juveniles the juvenile courts are most likely to have greater prosecutorial discretion. Even if that's the case most likely [linK:http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/09/20/pennsylvania-court-says-juvenile-authorities-can-report-actions-colleges|these kids will be screwed over in job or college applications].

[octothorpe]

56. Hopefully that won't happen...

The kid should get in some sort of significant trouble, but jail time and being labeled as a sex offender for the rest of his/her life is a bit much.

[JVS]

61. The law linked in 34 says that for minors it's a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine....

of $1,000 and up to one year in prison. Provided that this is a first offense.

[Spartacus Maximus XL]

76. It is probably not child pronography here.

A naked picture is not automatically pornography, even of an underaged person. It has to be obscene, which I think for a minor would mean sexually suggestive somehow. Nor do I see that anyone is promoting it. Maybe this photo meets that test, but we do not know. But I do not practice in the criminal law area.

[Orrex]

8. Will the girl who sent the picture of herself be charged with anything?

It's happened before, with kids facing child porn charges for sending pics like these.

[ReRe]

10. I say give her a Jitterbug...

...phone, or one on which she can only call in and out. Lord, middle school..

[timdog44]

11. A couple things on this.

First, children are finding out who and who not are their real friends. Unfortunately with new technology, this is being forced on them and there needs to be a way to make them aware of the consequences of what they do, and how to find real trust in the choice of their friends. They are being made aware, but the consequences can be more harsh than they probably should be.

Second, and probably should be first, is the parents need to be more aware of what goes on and the possibilities of the new technologies. A lot of problems for children these days goes back to parenting. The real true responsibility of being a parent doesn't end when the children go to school. It actually lasts a lifetime. Parents are not friends with their children, they are teachers and mentors. Not sure how that is solved until it is too late.

[redqueen]

28. During adolescence most kids rebel to one extent or another.

There comes a time when peers and their opinions become very important to kids.

I agree parenting is important, but no parent should fool themselves into thinking something like this could never happen to their kid.

[timdog44]

32. And I agree with that.

I guess what I am thinking is that parents need to stay on top of the technology and be as smart with it as the kids are, and be careful what public social "things" are available and who are their "friends". It is a most difficult thing, but it is their responsibility. It won't always stop bad things happening to innocents.

[groundloop]

12. Mixed feellings about this....

First off, I feel for the girl whose photo is circulating. I have a teenage daughter and can empathize. At the same time I worry about her, if she feels sending nude or semi-nude photos of herself to a boy (I'm assuming it was a boy, haven't read the linked story yet) will get her some needed attention I'm afraid she has some bigger issues going on.

On the other hand I wonder about how our culture demonizes bare breasts. In many parts of the world bare breasts are no big deal (and I tend to agree with that). Yes, I'm a red blooded male and appreciate attractive women..... but I'm much more comfortable with my kids being exposed to images of human bodies (which are banned from television) than with images of violence, war, and killing (which are everywhere on television).

Somewhat related story - we were on our boat a couple of summers ago and my daughter's bathing suit top had a 'malfunction' which she wasn't aware of, so I just quietly told to her to adjust her top... end of story, it was no big deal. Except now I wonder if I'm going to hell because I've seen my daughter's breasts.

[bitchkitty]

14. Agree with you about the culture.

Only in American and in Spain have I ever seen such an obsession with bare breasts. The sight of a nipple on the beach would bring all the boys running.

[bluedigger]

13. If only her humiliation could be publicized nationally.

[Posteritatis]

43. And, indeed, encouraged by most of the readers here. (nt)

[Catherina]

15. Again and again and again :(

RIP Amanda Todd

[blackspade]

17. Horrible!

What is wrong with kids these days?
And why in the world did parents not step in and stop this shit?
She took a topless photo, so the fuck what?
How is that a reason to hound her to death?

[Catherina]

30. The parents didn't know in time :(

It's terrible all the way around.

Here's my original thread about Amanda: http://www.democraticunderground.com/11399002

Here's something her mother added, that they found out after her suicide:

“The Internet stalker she flashed kept stalking her. Every time she moved schools he would go undercover and become a Facebook friend. What the guy did was he went online to the kids who went to (the new school) and said that he was going to be a new student — that he was starting school the following week and that he wanted some friends and could they friend him on Facebook.”

The man also reportedly sent the video and photos to teachers, parents, Facebook friends, which led to the spiral of bullying.

http://globalgrind.com/news/amanda-todds-mother-speaks-suicide-details

It's a sick world

[blackspade]

33. I meant the parents of the bullies.

I will not tolerate my kids bullying others.
It is totally unacceptable.

[Posteritatis]

44. Most parents of bullies are either in denial or in favor. (nt)

[davidthegnome]

71. Damn. Poor girl.

She was just a young kid. A young kid who wanted attention, affection... and went about it the wrong way. She did not deserve what those shits did to her. I remember well what it was like to sit alone during school lunches. The cafeteria is full, yet no one wants you to sit by them because they don't want to be associated with someone unpopular, someone weird... one of the social misfits or outcasts. It brings back memories...

In elementary school and middle school I was a quiet, shy kid. I would stand alone during recess and watch the cars go by, I would sit by myself during lunch because no one wanted to associate with a weird kid. I did some things to impress people, shoplifting, breaking things, getting into trouble... if nothing else, I thought the bad boy image could win me some friends. All it really got me was more trouble, parents and teachers thinking I was a bad kid..

Eighth grade, I moved to a smaller town, a smaller school. For the first time in my young life I made friends, got to know people who didn't already have an image of me as... different, weird, trouble. It was one of the best years of my life, until high school began and my smaller school had to merge with the high school of the town I'd grown up in. All of my so called friends had nothing to say to me, would not meet my eyes if we passed in the hall - and even took part in the little circles that laughed at me.

I walked through the cafeteria, my first day of school... carrying a tray and wishing I could just disappear. There weren't many tables to sit at... as I walked past one that was considered the cool table, kids kept saying things like, "That fag isn't sitting by me."

The first day of high school was my last. I told my parents that if they ever made me go again I'd end my life. I probably would have at the time - I didn't understand how shallow, ignorant and cruel most teenagers really are. I didn't know that life could get better. I expected to be a loser, a misfit, an outcast - the weird guy - for the rest of my life.

So I have some inkling of how this poor girl must have felt. Not so different from the poor kid being mentioned in the OP. What does this say about our teenagers? What does this say about their parents? What does it say about our culture? This society... is not terribly forgiving of mistakes, nor of ugliness or strangeness. Deviate but a little from the norm and you can ruin your whole life.

Some times I wish intelligent aliens would come conquer earth, take control, and make us behave like decent beings...

[Catherina]

77. I think it says so much about our schools.

I was in US private schools most of my life. In Primary School run by a Swiss woman. my best friend was mentally handicapped. I knew but I didn't think anything of it and she was never ever bullied in our school. We simply accepted that we were all different with different gifts.

In Secondary School, there were a few kids who were different but no one acted any different around them.

When Columbine broke and the media talked about bullying, my French live-in couldn't get over it and said he'd never heard of such a thing in his schools.

I really think that's where we're failing. No child should be ostracized, bullied because they're different. I'm glad this is finally being talked about but it needs to change quickly. Not one more kid! I'm sorry some of the joy from your childhood was stolen from you. That is so not right.

[davidthegnome]

78. As an adult I can handle it.

As a child, I felt that my life was worthless. I hated school, hated the kids that bullied me, despised the teachers that some times joined in, (in various subtle ways) even though I never really found the courage to fight back. Not then. My Father tried to teach me how to fight, my oldest sister told me that, "God helps those who help themselves".

One of my most vivid memories of my middle school days was walking home from school one day - and being followed by and frequently pushed by a small group of bullies. Three or four boys, who were probably bored and thought it would be amusing to make the fat kid cry. Finally I'd had enough, I told them I'd fight them all in a wooded area behind a local store. We gathered - other boys passing on the street heard about it and came to watch.

The boy I stood facing (with the others standing around in a circle, like a group of friggin hyenas) was very scrawny, thick-rimmed glasses, someone most kids would think of as a nerd. He was brilliant in science and later in life became very successful - but back then he was a total shit. I put my hands up, he started punching me - and I froze. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that made me freeze up, the whole flight or fight thing - perhaps it was the knowledge that even if I won, there were plenty of boys ready to come over and beat me to a pulp. So I got my ass kicked by a kid half my size, because I didn't fight back.

It's interesting the things I recall from that time, the taste of blood in my mouth, the smell of unwashed boys and sweat. The feeling that everyone hated me and nothing I could do was going to change that. The way the sunlight hit the leaves on the trees as I lay on the ground sobbing - it would have been quite lovely if my head hadn't hurt so much.

For all that, what happened to that girl is even worse. We live in a society that paints girls who display any sort of sexuality as sluts and whores. Conservative preachers will rant about the evil of promiscuity and suggest that the girl ought to go to hell. Their followers will accept this as good koolaid (gospel) and even those who are sympathetic will be careful not to show it - so they do not become associated with the girl who committed the terrible crime of showing her boobs.

As much as we become angry about it, or sad... as much as we want things to change, children will generally go with the flow. I am not sure how we alter society in such a way that the behavior of bullies, whether children or adults... becomes unacceptable. We would have to do more than teach children - we would have to educate teachers, preachers, parents, even great intellectuals and academics.

It's no surprise that a lot of our kids hate school, that they don't care for reading or writing. Why should they? Society forces them into a prison that essentially trains them to be good little worker bees. A prison full of bored children who find amusement in tormenting each other - like a sadistic little kid pulling the legs off ants.

[Catherina]

80. That's just awful :(

I don't want to get too political. I agree with you that "children will generally go with the flow". With the flow and the tone set from above. Our nation's personality is that of a bully and its tone permeates everything.

And the teachers! I think most of them try or would try but they're so overwhelmed with large classrooms. There shouldn't be more than 10-20 children in a classroom. That's not a luxury! It could be done but we're too busy enriching a bunch of bureaucrats and middlemen to provide our kids with the proper supervision and guidance.

Your story infuriates me. Your last paragraph does too for its sad truth.

[davidthegnome]

82. It goes back to the industrial revolution.

The ultimate goal of public education was, initially, to prepare children to enter the work force as adults. To train them in such a way that they would respond well to authority, that they would do what they were told without too much opposition. Initially, the idea wasn't to inspire critical thinking, to teach children how to learn... it was to create generations of wage workers who didn't fight back too hard when things got shitty. The unions altered this to an extent, until they were largely demonized by the republican party.

We're being trained from a very young age to repress our feelings, our creativity, to not speak up even when we really want to. It's worse in impoverished areas than it is in others. As someone who's going to college now to one day become an educator... it's a struggle to figure out how we can begin to make progress in the right direction. To value empathy and creativity as much as we might value the learning of math or science.

For all the sad stories I might tell, there are good ones that others might share. I feel that the problem is more with public attitude than with public education. Our nation's personality really is that of a bully. I think plenty of educators want to turn things around, but don't have the power or the money to do so. Charter schools, education reform... people like Michelle Rhee, Mike Bloomberg and Rahm Emanuel, may have good intentions, but I believe they're going to make things worse. Our educational system should not be profit based.

One child at a time, one classroom at a time, if we can make a difference even for one person we can begin to alter the nightmares that frequently occur within the system.

[Catherina]

85. I'm happy you're trying to make a difference and become an educator

I agree with everything you wrote and it's infuriating to watch it happen, getting even worse in many areas. I wish you luck with your dream because it's so important.

[Blue_Tires]

16. Hard to have any sympathy for her since she took it herself and shared it

it's not like this is some peeping tom hidden camera shot...

Just mark it down as a dumb teen mistake (we've all made them) and move on...

[redqueen]

18. Wow. Nasty. nt

[Blue_Tires]

20. Maybe a little too harsh on my part, but what else can really be done?

Other than making sure the victim learned a valuable life lesson??

[redqueen]

21. Criticism for the victim and nothing to say about the piece of shit victimizers.

Yes, clearly there is no other reasonable response.

[Blue_Tires]

22. I can criticize both

but this is NOT some 50-50 blame proposition...

The girl took the photo, sent it to a classmate(!) and has the nerve to be shocked when it's passed around to other students and posted online...Yeah, it's an ugly betrayal by someone she probably considered a good friend, but it doesn't excuse the fact that she set these events in motion..

[redqueen]

23. Yeah, but you didn't.

[Posteritatis]

45. Funny, I thought the person who chose to publicly humiliate her set things in motion.

You know, the one who consciously decided to take actions that would harm her?

The tired, reflexive "victim had it coming - look at how she was dressed?" defense of the people who actually wronged someone in this thread is pretty fucking nauseating.

[Blue_Tires]

48. Oh come the hell on...

If you leave all the lights on in your house and the doors wide open when you go out at night and get robbed, yes the burglar is the one breaking the law, but guess who the cops will spend more time questioning? How do you think the conversation will go when you try to get an insurance payout??


Even an 8th grader by that age has had first-hand experience in seeing the damage when sensitive info gets out...In our day it was passing love notes that would get intercepted, or "Lemme tell you this secret about me, but you've GOT to promise to NEVER tell another soul!" -talk with your best friend that the entire school knew about before the day was over...I'd think kids would eventually learn this coming up in the age of smartphones and social media, even if they are kids...And if they DON'T know, it's up to the parents to educate them...

[Posteritatis]

49. You're really invested in exonerating the victimizers, aren't you. (nt)

[Blue_Tires]

79. Nope; just in pointing out the girl isn't totally blameless in this

Yes, I get it -- She's 13, gullible and did something ill-advised that came back to burn her from a friend's backstabbing (as myself and everyone else on this thread experienced in one way or another at that age)...Live and learn...

[joeglow3]

25. I think everyone can agree the victimizers are beyond pieces of shit

That is like claiming I deny the sky is blue because I did not mention it in a post. The sentiment regarding the people who posted the pic is so common sense, why even waste time making sure everyone knows we believe them to be pieces of shit.

However, the lesson that CAN be learned from this is that you open yourself up to risk by putting your reputation into the hands of someone else when you give them something as private as this picture.

[redqueen]

27. It's common sense that boys and men can't be trusted?

Really?

If I tell someone a secret, and then they run out and tell someone else...

How many would criticize me for trusting them? How many would criticize them?

[joeglow3]

37. That is fine

So long as you recognize that you are also accepting a risk. Again, it is not to say you are at fault if the person turns out to be a piece of shit. However, there is only one way to GUARANTEE a picture like this doesn't get out.

Of course, it also opens up the question of who is able to earn this trust. I feel extremely comfortable telling a 12 year old that NO ONE can earn that trust at 12.

[jeff47]

46. I wouldn't trust a 12-year-old to do anything.

We are talking about pretty young kids. They aren't the most reliable people - which is fine, they aren't done growing up yet. But at that age, keeping your secret would be the much more unusual outcome.

[NickB79]

83. When it comes to teen boys and nude pics of women

You can trust that they WILL share them, as surely as the sun will rise.

[redqueen]

84. And none of them will say its wrong, because rape culture.

We aren't talking about porn. We are talking about private pictures and there is no grey area there.

I wonder how many boys or men would tell their friends they were pieces of shit for doing it.

[oldhippie]

86. I knew it!

I knew you were going to work "rape culture" in there.

[redqueen]

87. Pity you can't see the connection yourself. nt

[Shivering Jemmy]

29. She's a kid

Kids do dumb things and you can still have compassion for them.

Really you can have compassion for anyone. Even those adults who do dumb things. Compassion is easy.

[Blue_Tires]

36. good point...

[Le Taz Hot]

62. So, every single decision you made at age 13

was a wise one? Really? Mine weren't. And I'm glad I'm not 13 in 2013 or mine probably would have been plastered all over the internet as well.

[davidthegnome]

73. In a decent society, perhaps...

We don't live in a decent society. That girl is going to be followed by this wherever she goes, tormented and mistreated by her peers and made to feel absolutely worthless.

I have a great deal of sympathy - I don't find it difficult at all.

[redqueen]

19. We need to do a lot more talking about rape culture.

There are so many examples that boys see which send the message that sharing and posting private, personal pictures of girls and women without the girls' or women's permission is expected and normal.

Even in this thread, it's treated as a foregone conclusion that boys and men will act this way, and all the warnings and shaming are directed toward the girl.

This has to change.

[In_The_Wind]

26. This ... ^^^ ... !

[Posteritatis]

42. Yeah, the unanimity of the victim-blaming in this thread is frankly frightening.

It's not even that as much as the fact that they're doing some kind of "oh, well" absolution of the people who started passing the picture around, and maybe sort of passive-aggressively toning that down only when directly called out on it.

[jeff47]

47. They're 12-14 years old.

Of course they're not going to be responsible with anything private.

[ladjf]

31. Newsflash to everyone. There is no privacy on the INTERNET. NOTHING that you wouldn't

want published Worldwide should ever be put on the INTERNET. I don't know the girls age but she might be criminally liable for distributing pornography, as ridiculous as that might sound.

[maddezmom]

34. Parents really need to educate their children

Here is the law for MO.

http://mobilemediaguard.com/states/sexting_laws_missouri.html

[JVS]

60. How is possession defined?

One of the things I find interesting about all laws involving possession of anything contraband is how they determine a person to be possessing something. I imagine that most of the classmates are going to make statements similar to the kid in the article that it was sent to them, they saw it, and then they deleted it. Is that an adequate defense? Would a jury convict someone whose only action seems to have been receiving a message? I suspect that transmission of the file is going to be a lot more of slam dunk for prosecutors.

[Archae]

35. What I'd like to know...

How could a girl be that stupid in the first place?

She's 13!

[redqueen]

38. Yeah! Most 13 year olds are, like, geniuses who never make mistakes!

Sheesh... A teenager doing something stupid. Whoever heard of such a thing!

[maddezmom]

39. I think you may answered your own question

She's 13 and probably didn't think of the consequences of sending a pic. Her parents probably aren't aware that she, as well as all of those that shared the pic could be in trouble as well. Laws vary by state and each parent that gives their child a phone should be educating their minor
children they same way they do about the consequences of drinking and driving.

[RobinA]

81. What I'm Reading

here is that this girl was young and made a mistake, but that the boys involved are victimizers. In my book they either all get a pass for being young and unable to consider consequences or they are all equally at fault. Or both.

What I object to is this notion that the female is too young, dumb, immature to know that putting a nude picture of herself on the Internet is going to end badly, but the boys should not be too young, dumb and immature to take advantage of the situation. It smacks of the old, Females are fragile flowers given to irrational thought who need protecting from their silliness.

I am a female. I have done dumb things. But I never blame the person whom I do dumb things with when the inevitable happens. I reject the idea that females are incapable of looking out for themselves that I see in so many of these supposedly pro-female posts. If you leave your laptop on a table at Starbucks and come back a day later and it's gone, you have no one to blame but yourself. Which doesn't make the person who took it less of a thief.

[lanlady]

40. and this deserves to be LBN on DU because...

why exactly?

[maddezmom]

41. The one reason maybe it was left is awareness of sexting laws

http://mobilemediaguard.com/state_main.html

State Laws Overview

The severity of a child’s action in terms of sexting is not always fully understood by both the children involved or their parents, but all 50 states have some type of legal enforcement.

While most parents understand that a child caught with sexually explicit images on their phone is criminal, the severity of the charges that could be assessed against the child can be sobering. For example, in states that have not specifically addressed sexting, it is very possible that the state will defer to its child pornography laws to address the action. As such, parents and their children need to begin to appreciate the following:

Possession of a sexually explicit image of a minor is a crime in and of itself.
Distribution (sending a sexually explicit image of a minor to others) is a crime in and of itself.
Promoting (the act of taking the picture of a minor who is engaged in a sexual act, even if the person taking the photo is the object of the photo) or coercing or soliciting (requesting a minor or tricking a minor into sending a sexually explicit image) is a crime in and of itself.
A teenager who takes a naked picture of themselves and sends it to another teen, has technically committed 3 felony crimes.
They could be charged with promoting, distributing and possessing child pornography and if convicted, could face real jail time.
A teen who receives a sexually explicit image (even if it was not requested) can be charged with possession and if they send the picture to anyone else they are looking at distribution charges if caught.
If one of the children is 18 (17 in some states) they are adults in the eyes of the law and even though they may be in a relationship with another teen, if that teen is under the age of 18 (17 in some states) there is a much greater risk of strict prosecution.
If convicted, the conviction will most likely be a felony and require the teenager to register as a sex offender.

More at the link

[benld74]

51. I told my kids COUNTLESS times, NEVER, NEVER

post ANY photos to ANY kind of electronic medium.

ONCE it is on the internet, it is there FOREVER.

[DollarBillHines]

52. In our schools, the kids are lectured on this with some regularity...

and it still happens.

[Tien1985]

54. And it's GOING to happen

No matter how much lecturing kids will endure. This technology exists and kids (and adults) are going to take compromising pictures of themselves.

For my part, I am far more concerned about punishing/shunning the ones who circulate pics widely rather than the ones who take them.

I see value is encouraging them not to take these pictures, the same way I see value in emcouragig them to wait until they are sure they are ready for sex. It probably won't happen 8 times out of ten. I see more value in utterly shaming people who distribute the pictures without consent.

[DollarBillHines]

55. I wonder what makes these kids think that it is OK to forward these pics?

What part of our culture encourages them to do this?

I am 60 years old and kinda out of touch. But I am not, by any means, Puritanical. As a matter of fact, I am one of the most hedonistic and immoral people I know.

But I don't understand this thing.

[octothorpe]

57. I'm willing to bet they knew it was wrong

I wouldn't doubt it if there were a few messages like "don't tell anyone I showed you this or share it with anyone" that were passed around. People (particularly teenagers) do stupid shit all the time. I'm willing to bet the girl who took the picture of herself knew it wasn't a good idea, but she did it anyway.

[redqueen]

63. The part that objectifies women.

The part that dehumanizes them.

Friends could put an end to this behavior by reacting negatively and shunning people who do it. Instead, creepshots and sites and those like it flourish, upskirt shots are treated like they're fine, etc. It's rape culture. Rape culture is why few speak out against it.

[olddots]

58. This scares me

I am not saying that smart phone ownership should require a license but people should know that what goes around comes around .
in electronic communication .


There might not be enough hours in the day to learn how powerful our toys and tools are but we better find the time before we hand them to kids.

[JVS]

59. The student who made the photo should be charged with producing child pornography...

and if they can determine who has sent the file to others, they should be charged with distribution.

[Quantess]

64. What if it was the student herself, taking a self portrait?

[JackRiddler]

67. The world needs more 13-year-olds receiving life prison sentences.

Personally, I think you're far too liberal and naive about this. This kind of thing requires the stake. As in, burned alive at. With spectators. We'll save the front row for you.

[Dash87]

68. Terrible idea. She's not a criminal. She's just a dumb kid.

Kids at that age don't have the capacity to understand the consequences if what they're doing.

Unfortunately, these days problems go online, and that stuff doesn't go away.

[Quantess]

65. Okay, so she was topless.

Topless is not full nudity. I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but, it's not necessarily porn. People are overreacting.

[JackRiddler]

66. "A parent" and "41 Action News" are creating a moral panic...

and contributing to the criminalization of young people as a class.

[redqueen]

70. I don't think people realize how common this is. Most times it doesn't make the news.

Freshman girls at my daughter's school are taken aside as part of orientation and told not to do this. They are told that the picture will be passed around, that it happens every year to too many girls and they are tired of dealing with the aftermath.

This generation of kids has grown up in a different environment, and adults seem to be extremely reluctant to see it. All kinds of denial and rationalization and side stepping going on. It's kinda pathetic, really.

[MineralMan]

69. Stories like this should never make the news.

As tough as this would be on the 13-year-old girl if it had just stayed within her schoolmates, the fact that it makes the news compounds the damage. 13-year-olds have poor judgment, at times. It comes with being 13. Whoever she sent the photo to also displayed terrible judgment. Similar age, I imagine.

So, it was discovered and someone raised a huge stink over it. If only the media had said, "Well, kids. We're not covering this at all." And if only the authorities, both at school and in law enforcement had said, "Ah, geez. Not another one of these. Let's give the kids a lecture about it. Then, the result would be little more than some short-term embarrassment for the girl, which she would have forgotten in a year or two and everything would return to normal.

13-year-olds do dumbass things. They always have, and they always will. Let's not blow those things up into major instances, please.

[davidthegnome]

72. I don't know what difference it would make

if they didn't.

We live in an age of vast social media. Let a friend take a picture of you drunk, holding a beer at a bar... and tomorrow it's on facebook, for your employers or potential employers to see. Do something stupid in any public place and it might very well appear on youtube the same day. Keeping these things quiet cannot be done, it can't be adequately enforced or controlled.

Instead, perspective needs to shift. We need to be aware of what's going on so we can do something about it. The parents of the kids torturing these girls need to be aware of what's happening, to take action. If they will not, then society needs to take action, to point how the often terrible consequences of even slightly stupid actions.

Humility must play a part. We are all human, we are all occasionally stupid. Somehow, we must learn to be kinder to one another... I don't know how we can do this as a whole. Some times I think that climate change and the coming disasters will be a mercy, we're so damn cruel to each other that kids in middle school and high school are living in hellish prisons where they are tormented by people resembling demons.

[MineralMan]

74. It would make a huge difference.

There is a difference between notoriety at some middle school somewhere and notoriety in newspapers, TV, and other media. These sexy photos sent around in social media by teens aren't uncommon. What is uncommon is having them discussed all over the media in specific cases. Only a very select few get such discussion. In almost all other cases, they never hit the media and are only distributed to small local group of other teens. While that's bad enough, imagine being 13 years old and seeing your story on Fox News and all over the media. There is a difference. There really is.

[marshall]

75. Keep in mind--the girl herself is not the one complaining

She may in fact be reveling in the attention she is getting.

The parents who are complaining are the ones whose children have been exposed to the photographs.