Practice Areas

• Slip and Fall Accidents / Premise Liability
• Car Accidents
• Construction and Work Accidents
• School Accidents and Children's Injuries
• Railroad Accidents and FELA
• Sexual Assaults
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Concert and Club Accidents

Blog

Library

Do You Know What Is on Your Child's Phone? Long Island Lawyer Examines the Dangers of Sexting and Provides Helpful Tips for Parents

Today's mobile phones are minicomputers, cameras, and gaming systems all in one, presenting dangers most parents are only beginning to understand. One shockingly common and dangerous practice is sexting, the act of sending sexually explicit messages or pictures between cell phones. It is often done among young people. According to recent studies, 20% of teens admit to participating in sexting. The practice can have serious legal and psychological consequences. Long Island attorney Neal Goldstein examines the dangers of sexting and offers important tips for parents.

In today's high-tech world where anything can be copied, sent, posted, and seen by huge audiences, there's no such thing as being able to control information. The intention doesn't matter - even if a photo was taken and sent to a boyfriends as a "gift" or token of love, the technology makes it possible for everyone to see your child's most intimate self. In a matter of seconds, it can be forwarded to half the school, posted on Facebook and Myspace, emailed, and circulated on the Internet.

It is important to remember that sexting is illegal and teens have been convicted of child porn distribution for emailing sexually explicit photos to each other. In Texas, an eighth-grader spent the night in a juvenile detention center after his football coach found a nude picture on his cell phone that a fellow student sent him. In Pennsylvania, six teenagers were charged with child pornography after three teenage girls sent sent nude pictures of themselves to three male classmates.

When intimate photos that were only meant for one person to see are widely distributed to everyone in a school, it can destroy a reputation and crush a child's self esteem. In Cincinnati, teen Jesse Logan committed suicide after a nude photo she'd sent to a boyfriend was circulated widely around her high school, resulting in harassment from her classmates on Facebook and MySpace.

Advice for Parents:
• Talk to your child about the consequences of sexting. Don't wait for an incident to happen. If your child has a cell phone, they are old enough to sext.
• Remind your kids that once an image is sent, it can be sent to anyone and everyone, and then posted and archived on the Internet forever--never be retrieved. Ask your child how they would feel if their teachers, parents, or the entire school saw the picture, because that happens all the time.
•Talk about pressures to send revealing photos. Let teens know that you understand how they can be pushed or dared into sending something. Tell them that no matter how big the social pressure is, the potential social humiliation can be hundreds of times worse.
• Make sure to talk to them about what to do if they receive a sext message from someone. Let them know they should delete it immediately and talk to a parent or trusted adult.
• If your child has sent any nude pictures of themselves, make sure they stop immediately. Fully discuss the dangers and make sure they understand the psychological and legal consequences.

If your child should become involved in sexting activities, it is important to know your legal rights and options and be sure to talk with a lawyer. At Goldstein & Bashner, we'll sit down with you , answer any questions you have, let you know if you have a case, and guide you through the legal process. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Lawyer Neal Goldstein| Top Attorney Car Accident

Free Books

Learn More

Bullying in Long Island Schools- A Lawyer's Look

See All

Free Consultation

FAQs

Testimonials

News