Over a Quarter of All Teens Send Nude Photos of Themselves

Source: "28% of teens polled send nude photos of selves," Bloomberg News, Omaha World-Herald, 2 July 2012.

Source: "New Study Says Nearly 30 Percent of Teens Are Sexting," Matthew Grant Anson, American News Report, 2 July 2012.

"In a poll of nearly 1,000 students, 28 percent of teens – over one in four – admitted to having sent a nude photo of themselves to someone. The study is being published in the  Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine." [American News Report].

"About half of almost 1,000 Texas students ages 14 to 19 from seven public high schools said they had been asked to electronically send a naked photo ... A third reported asking someone else to send them a nude picture." [Omaha World-Herald].

At one time it was common sense. The reproductive areas are kept private. "And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty" (I Corinthians 12:23). Young people are following the trend of ancient Israel. "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down," says the LORD" (Jeremiah 6:15).

"Sarah, a 19-year-old college student from New Jersey who doesn’t want her full name used, estimates that up to 50 percent of teenagers have sexted. “I have been asked to sext by several peers,” Sarah told American News Report. “It’s become widespread because teenagers aren’t really thinking of the consequences while doing it.” ... Teens are often warned that the pictures they send may be shared between their peers without them knowing, but Sarah disputes this. “I don’t think the photos get spread around as often as the media would like to depict it,” she said. Sarah may want to talk to Michael, a 20-year-old college student from California. “I’ve never had a naked picture that I haven’t shown to a friend,” Michael said. “Wait! One girl – nope, nevermind. Every single one.”" [American News Report].

Sadly, this has led to the usual response. Sending nude photos of a minor is a crime. But because so many minors are involved in it, the response is to make it legal. The morality of the situation is not considered.

"Temple says these findings support recent efforts by governments to soften legal penalties of sexting for juveniles. “Resources currently used to criminally punish teen sexting could instead be diverted to prevention and education programs focusing on reducing risky sex behaviors among adolescents.”" [American News Report].

Now tell me again why the government wants to regulate the nutritional content of food. It would seem that with so many people eating junk food anyway that it wouldn't be worth the expense.