Sexting and Child Pornography

My previous posts today have focused on problems caused by and for employees who use Facebook and MySpace. Another related subject is also in the news: sexting, the use of high-tech phones (usually by young teen girls) to text, post or email nude or seminude photos of themselves to their friends. It’s estimated that 20% of teens have sexted as a way of flirting or just having fun.

As it turns out, fun this hasn’t always been. To get back at his former girlfriend, one male teen found nude photos his ex had previously sexted him and sent the photos via an email blast to 70 people, including the girl’s parents, grandparents, teachers, and other teens. He’s presently serving five years probation for the crime of child pornography and is a registered sex offender.

Other sexting teens have had it easier, but they too have felt the sting of ridicule, as well as the threat of a child pornography charge. (Click here and here.) The crime of child pornography is serious. Although the law on this subject is designed to prevent the sale of photos or videos of children (usually under the age of 18), a strict interpretation of the law would apply it to sexting. (Click here for a post, linking to other posts, I’ve done on the danger of child pornography in the workplace.)

If you employ young workers, it’s possible that their younger teen friends sext them. In a fun-loving moment, they just might forward the sexted nude pictures to someone else. This act could fall within a child pornography offense — for the employee and the employer.

Sexting can, therefore, be a problem for all employers. Review your Internet use policy. Meet with your employees to reinforce the policies you have and to specifically address sexting.