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Sexting

Teens using Snapchat | Franviser | Dreamstime.com

Sexting

18-Year-Old Faces Possible 70 Years in Federal Prison for Snapchat Sexting Crime

"I'm not saying my kid should get nothing," says Eric Beyer Jr.'s mother. "But to take an 18-year-old kid and put him in jail for longer than he's been alive?"

Emily Horowitz | 9.14.2022 8:00 AM

policetexting_1161x653 | Seanlockephotography / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: Should Have Nipped It in the Bud

Charles Oliver | 3.31.2022 4:00 AM

policetexting_1161x653 | Seanlockephotography / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: Smooth Operator

Charles Oliver | 11.5.2020 4:00 AM

CO-sexting-PSA-KOAA | KOAA

Sexting

Colorado Supreme Court Upholds a Decision That Forced a Teenager to Register As a Sex Offender for Swapping Nude Selfies

That result "may strike some as unfair," the court says, but it's what state law required at the time.

Jacob Sullum | 6.24.2019 3:30 PM

Volokh Conspiracy

Vermont Supreme Court Reads Revenge Porn Law Narrowly

Alice sends nude picture to her ex, Bob. Bob's new girlfriend (or maybe would-be girlfriend) Carol gets it and posts it online. Carol wouldn't be guilty under the state revenge porn statute, the court rules.

Eugene Volokh |The Volokh Conspiracy | 6.14.2019 7:07 PM

Sexting | Juan Moyano | Dreamstime.com

Sexting

A 16-Year-Old Girl Is Facing Child Pornography Charges for Making a Sex Video of Herself

A finding of guilt would be an attack on the autonomy and self-ownership of all young people

Robby Soave | 5.29.2019 4:34 PM

Large image on homepages | Dragana Gordic / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: This Won't Help

Charles Oliver | 4.4.2019 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Kike Arnaiz/Westend61 GmbH/Newscom

New York City

New York City Wants to Make It Illegal to Send a Sexy Pic Without Affirmative Consent

It's been dubbed "NYC's Anti-Airdrop Dick Pic Law," but the bill is much broader than that.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.5.2018 3:45 PM

Large image on homepages | Peter Cripps / Dreamstime

Sexting

Police Investigate 20 Kids for Sexting, Charge No One (Thankfully)

The ideal outcome

Lenore Skenazy | 6.26.2018 8:50 AM

Large image on homepages | Bartek Szewczyk Westend61/Newscom

Teenagers

Eighteen Is Old Enough for War But Not Sexting, Say Ohio Lawmakers

The House Criminal Justice Committee just voted unanimously in favor of a bill to ban sexting by anyone under age 19.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.30.2018 11:45 AM

Large image on homepages | Tarajane / Dreamstime

Sexting

Police Investigating 12 Virginia Students for Sexting, Could Charge Them With Possessing Child Porn

"A felony that carries a minimum five-year sentence."

Robby Soave | 5.15.2018 9:10 AM

Large image on homepages | Peter Cripps / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: Phone Sex

Charles Oliver | 2.19.2018 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Screenshot via WTIC

Free-Range Kids

22-Year-Old Woman Facing Sexual Assault Charges for Relationship with 18-Year-Old Male Student

Victim's parents don't want charges, say the couple is in love.

Lenore Skenazy | 2.8.2018 9:15 AM

Large image on homepages | Isabella Antonelli / Dreamstime

Police in Schools

If a School Cop Threatens Your 13-Year-Old with Child Porn Charges for Sexting, Get a Lawyer

Families should never consent to have school resource officers search kids' phones.

Robby Soave | 2.7.2018 9:21 AM

Large image on homepages | Goodween123

Sexting

14-Year-Old Girl Sends Explicit Photo of Herself; Cops Charge Her with Distributing Child Porn

An arrest is worse than a humiliating sext.

Robby Soave | 1.19.2018 3:41 PM

Large image on homepages | Bonninstudio Westend61/Newscom

Teenagers

The Year in Teen Sexting Panic

From cops to Congress, overreactions to teen sexting have reached new heights in 2017.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.21.2017 12:05 PM

Large image on homepages

Sexting

Court to Cops: Forcing a Teenager to Masturbate in Front of You Is Not Reasonable

A detective who was later charged with molesting children performed the humiliating search while investigating consensual sexting.

Jacob Sullum | 12.7.2017 1:50 PM

Large image on homepages | FRANCK LODI/SIPA/Newscom

Sex Crimes

No Bail for Wisconsin Cop Nabbed for Sex Chat With Teen

Snapchat and Facebook exchanges with a 15-year-old have Wisconsin officer Basil O'Kimosh facing life in prison.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.8.2017 1:55 PM

Large image on homepages | John Holcroft IKON Images/Newscom

FISA

Senate Could Make It Easy for FBI to Spy on Teen Sexters, Black Lives Matter, and Other U.S. 'Criminals'

FISA reauthorization would majorly expand use of warrantless digital surveillance data against Americans.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 10.24.2017 12:40 PM

Large image on homepages | JefferySRezabek/Facebook

Sex Crimes

Ohio Republicans Move to Ban Sexting Between Teens

The bill is being pitched as a way to help teens avoid harsh child-porn laws.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.22.2017 11:28 AM

Large image on homepages

Sexting

Dick Pic Makes Teenager Guilty of Sexually Exploiting Himself, High Court Says

The Washington Supreme Court's ruling implies that adolescents who engage in consensual sexting are child pornographers.

Jacob Sullum | 9.18.2017 9:15 AM

Large image on homepages | Philip Toscano/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Sexting

Colorado Cops Say Sex With Teens OK So Long as There's No Sexting

What?

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.8.2017 9:23 AM

Large image on homepages

Sex Crimes

Iowa Prosecutor Who Threatened to Treat Girl's Selfies As Child Porn Backs Down

Marion County Attorney Ed Bull promises not to prosecute a teenager who took pictures of herself in her underwear.

Jacob Sullum | 7.14.2017 5:20 PM

Large image on homepages | @RepMikeJohnson/Twitter

Sexting

House Overwhelmingly Supports Bill Subjecting Teen Sexters to 15 Years in Federal Prison

The bill was requested by the Department of Justice after federal prosecutors bungled a child exploitation case.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.31.2017 11:08 AM

Large image on homepages | Corey Walgren and father via Corey Walgren / Twitter

Sexting

16-Year-Old Commits Suicide After School Cop Threatens Him with Child Porn Charges

"I think they wanted to scare him straight. Instead, they scared him to death."

Robby Soave | 5.24.2017 9:25 AM

Large image on homepages | Pro Juventute via Foter.com / CC BY

Brickbats

Brickbat: Concerned Father

Charles Oliver | 10.17.2016 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Tarajane / Dreamstime

Sexting

Prosecutor Wants to Charge 14-Year-Old Girl with Sexual Exploitation for Taking PG-13 Pictures of Herself

When her parents found out she had sexted, they were horrified. When they saw the actual pictures, they were confused.

Robby Soave | 10.4.2016 11:07 AM

Large image on homepages | Viennareport/Sipa USA/Newscom

Pornography

Pamela Anderson Warns That 'The Crack Babies of Porn' Are Nigh

In the Wall Street Journal, the ex-Playboy model blames online-porn for Anthony Weiner's texting troubles & kids propelled "warp-speed into the dark side."

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.1.2016 10:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Policy

When Sex Is Not a Crime, Why Should Sexting Be?

Rather than create new misdemeanors, states should take a page from statutory rape laws.

Jacob Sullum | 4.4.2016 9:17 AM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Sexting

Should Cops Arrest a 14-Year-Old Boy on Child Porn Charges Because He Sexted?

Investigation occupied the Redding, Connecticut, police department for three months.

Robby Soave | 3.30.2016 3:10 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Colorado Sexting Reforms Could Yield More Criminal Charges Against Teenagers

Lighter penalties are apt to encourage prosecution for behavior that shouldn't be a crime.

Jacob Sullum | 3.30.2016 9:31 AM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Sexting

This School Actually Handled Sexting Scandal the Right Way: No Teens Went to Jail.

It's possible to discourage inappropriate behavior without ruining lives.

Robby Soave | 3.21.2016 4:52 PM

Large image on homepages

Privacy

Teacher Could Face Charges for 'Contributing to Delinquency of Minor' Who Stole Her Phone and Distributed Nude Photos From It

School administrators say she should have password-protected the phone.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.2.2016 9:30 AM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Sexting

New Mexico Attorney General Protests Bill That Would Decriminalize Teen Sexting

'I cannot support an amendment that weakens protections for teenagers from predatory activity.'

Robby Soave | 2.18.2016 6:26 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Will Reducing Penalties for Sexting Encourage Prosecution?

The voluntary exchange of pictures by teenagers should not be treated as a crime at all.

Jacob Sullum | 2.10.2016 10:13 AM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Sexting

Male Teen Takes Nude Photo of Himself, Charged with Making Child Porn

The kid, 15, could be placed on the sex offender registry.

Robby Soave | 2.3.2016 6:45 PM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Sexting

Putting Teens in Jail for Sexting Is Always Immoral

Laws that deny young people ownership of their bodies should be abolished.

Robby Soave | 1.11.2016 4:55 PM

Large image on homepages

Policy

Michigan Teenagers in 'Massive Sexting Scandal' Won't Be Treated Like Child Pornographers

State police show notable restraint, seeing the incident as an occasion for education rather than prosecution.

Jacob Sullum | 12.22.2015 11:24 AM

Large image on homepages | Police

Civil Liberties

Cop Who Sought Photos of Teen's Erection in Sexting Case Commits Suicide Moments Before Arrest

The cop was the sexual predator, not the teen.

Robby Soave | 12.15.2015 4:10 PM

Large image on homepages

Sexting

Two Long Island 14-Year-Olds Charged With Felonies for Producing and Sharing a Video Showing One Them Having Sex With a Girl

Twenty other students were suspended for receiving the video on their cellphones.

Jacob Sullum | 11.11.2015 8:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Policy

The Real Sexting Scandal

Teenagers who swap nude photos of themselves should not be branded as sex offenders.

Jacob Sullum | 11.11.2015 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Civil Liberties

Prosecutor, Legislator Blame Each Other for Derailing Teen's Future Over Sexting Charge

Teen loses cell phone privileges, constitutional rights.

Robby Soave | 9.15.2015 12:24 PM

Large image on homepages

Sexting

Adults Who Sext Have Better Relationships, Says Study

But can adults be prosecuted for consensual sexting? Maybe.

Ronald Bailey | 8.11.2015 8:15 AM

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