Sexting : Child Pornography or Innocent Courtship Ritual? A Review of Relevant Caselaw

Abstract

The use of cell phones by adolescents has continued to grow over the past decade; approximately 75 percent of teenagers have cell phones. With this increase in access, a new area of concern has developed. Sexting, or the act of taking nude or semi-nude videos or pictures and sending them to another person via cell phones, instant messaging programs, social networks, and video chat, is becoming more recognized by lawmakers as an issue that needs to be addressed. What some teens fail to realize is that the act of sexting is actually deemed production and distribution of child pornography, which comes with it serious legal and social consequences. The purpose of this study was to analyze, compare, and contrast laws passed by various states to address this issue.