Sexting: Is It Child Pornography?

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Recommended: The effects of pornography on the teens

Teenagers in this world of technology have surpassed the written laws put into place to protect our citizens from child pornography. When child pornography laws were placed into the law books there was no internet, no mobile phones, and no social media. These laws were put into place to protect the vary people and children that are using technology. Technology that is used to produce explicit photos of those same people. The problem we are facing now is that the law does not cater to individuals. Is sexting between teenagers actually child pornography? According to the laws yes it is and this must be changed. Teenagers are being charged with production, distribution, and receiving of child pornography and charged with felonies and made to register as sex offenders, this is wrong and the laws must be changed.
The Department of justice’s “Citizen’s Guide to U.S. Federal law on Child Pornography” says According to Section 2256 of Title 18, of the United States Code, it “defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (someone under 18 years of age). Visual depictions include photographs, videos, digital or computer generated images indistinguishable from an actual minor, and images created, adapted, or modified, but appear to depict an identifiable, actual minor. Undeveloped film, undeveloped videotape, and electronically stored data that can be converted into a visual image of child pornography are also deemed illegal visual depictions under federal law.” Pictures that can be considered as child pornography do not have to show a sexual act, it just needs to contain a minor dressed or undressed in a manner that can excite. This can be underwear or a bathing suit, and applies ...

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...thing that they thought was not actually important. The matter of sexting is a serious matter, but should not be as serious to a minor case involving two teens.

Works Cited

American Academy of Pediatrics. “Talking to kids and teens about social media and sexting.” App. May 2013. Web. 31 March 2014.
PCs N Dreams. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 March 2014.
“Teens and Sexting: What is it and What can Parents do?” Bradley Hospital. Web. 31 March 2014
United States. Dept. of Justice. “Citizen’s Guide to U.S. Federal Law on Child Pornography.” Justice. US Dept. of Justice, n.d. Web. 17 March 2014.
Winston, Annie. A Father’s Sexting Teen: The Brian Hunt Story. Irvine: Tri-Net Publishing, 2010. Print.
“What is Sexting?” Legal Match. Web. 17 March 2014.
“11 Facts About Sexting.” Do Something. Web. 31 March 2014.
Valbrun, Marjorie. “Teen Sex.” (2013) CQ Researcher. Web. 1 Apr. 2014

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