sexting!

[oaktree]

This seems to be a real big issue as many kids are being arrested for child pornography. Could the America justice system going to far on this? This there a far better way in controlling the problem? What is your thought?

[dancingdoc2]

This is a great topic for discussion!

My thoughts are-
* take the gosh darn cell phones away, period
- if this is impractical, do not allow the child to do any text messaging
* get a cell phone service that does not include messaging
* the first time the bill comes in for more than the standard monthly charge, make the child pay for it! In the meantime go to the top of the list....
* regardless of the content of the messages, if the number of daily t/ms's is more than, say, ten (10) have a talk with the child about waiting to use the telephone when they get home and then place a daily limit on its use of no more than 20 minutes total.

The only ways I am aware of that you can prevent sending photos is not to have a camera. So, no web-cameras, and no cell phone with a camera. Better, have a heart to heart discussion with the child up front when giving them a cell phone to use about using it responsibly. Sending dozens of texts a day to friends is not a good use of their time. Talk to your child(ren) about what often happens when they send provocative images out into the world and how once they press the "send" button, that picture is out there for the world to see.

Guys often think it is fun to share pictures with their friends; those friends think it is cool to forward them on to others, and before you know it the entire school has seen them. Reputations have been ruined and embarrassing comments and gossip ensue.

Just ask a girl or boy if they would hand another person a photograph? If they say "of course not!" then ask them why they would send such a picture by t/m or E-mail. The followup to this is that even handing a person a photograph is no guarantee it won't end up in cyberspace. Lots of families have scanners...............

I believe that the use of cell phones needs to come with restrictions and guidelines that are strictly enforced. The same goes for E-mailing.

[oaktree]

I don't know any cell phones w/o a camra. But then agian i don't keep you with technology too.
Sure you can talk to your kid(s) about the danger of web cams and cell phones but some may still do it under perpressure from friends. We all have been a kid at one point and sure know what it is like to be pressure to do drugs, drink, smoke ect,. Kids these days, from what i have observed, are out spoken, no respect for adults, smartasses, and think they are invesable. Even my 10 year old has a mouth on him calling me a "asshole" and his mother a "bitch". Yea, he got it good for that but he still disrepect his mother and I. It just not him, many of his friends are like that.

As far as sexting, well i think it is time for the school system teaching the youth on the dangers of of topic. Yesterday was on AIDS, today techology and who knows what it will be like 50 years from now. Probley the danger of robot sex. But i do agree with what you sugested dancingdoc2 on how to handle kids with cell phone. There should be one thing to add, get the cellphone companies to work on a system that will block nudity on cells.

[nuttychick]

Originally Posted by dancingdoc2

The only ways I am aware of that you can prevent sending photos is not to have a camera. So, no web-cameras, and no cell phone with a camera.

There is another way.. the cell provider can block everything from web access, to picture sending, to even txt messages. I do believe it can be done worldwide (I have a good friend who works in this field, )
When my son's first bill arrived I marched him down to the phone company and got them to block everything but 500txt per month, he was unable to send or receive pictures as well.
Problem solved...

All too many parents these days let their kids do as they wish. All this crap about the "kids of these days" is down to the parents
with letting their kids run wild ..

[I_Wuz_Here]

Some wireless services allow you to see exactly what each message said if you log in to your account online. I believe you have to pay extra for this though.

[dancingdoc2]

1. Oak, I hope you can get your boy to develop respect and courtesy.
If you want to get him to tow the line, you can start taking toys, games, and other things he values away. You have to find his "coinage" or things he values and remove them. Worst case, empty his room except for a mattress, and inform him that when he behaves, he will begin getting things back, including his furniture, computer, games, or whatever his "currency" is.

2. I_, a little fee for this is worthwhile compared to what I have seen on TV from parents who have received huge phone bills and pages and pages listing all calls/messages sent.

3. Tomorrow morning I'm going to call some cell phone companies and ask them what restrictions they have.

[funinthesun]

Even in college - the amount of people txting or playing with their phones in class is ridiculous these days varying in form from mindless nonsense to phone sex. At least in high school if you annoy your teacher you can ask someone else for a recommendation but in college most of us teaching people are almost guaranteed to be called by your prospective employers about your habits!!!!!!

[JDQuench]

Im a 16 yr old boy nd hve seen not only pictures but videos of girls my age strip tease on their beds til they are completly naked! This video waz origionaly sent to the girls boyfriend but true the wonders on bluetooth it waz sent to nearly 5 or 6 schools in my city so nearly 5 thousand or so has seen this video! I condem the people that send these private things on to people that are not involved! Its like readin someones emails or reading their letters! I relly hope that girls parents didnt find out!

[oaktree]

Originally Posted by JDQuench

Im a 16 yr old boy nd hve seen not only pictures but videos of girls my age strip tease on their beds til they are completly naked! This video waz origionaly sent to the girls boyfriend but true the wonders on bluetooth it waz sent to nearly 5 or 6 schools in my city so nearly 5 thousand or so has seen this video! I condem the people that send these private things on to people that are not involved! Its like readin someones emails or reading their letters! I relly hope that girls parents didnt find out!

And now strangers see her naked and may recognized her where ever she goes. Her stupidity of doing that can scar her for life. Worst of all, if she is under 16 and ppl old than 16 have that video, they can be arrested for having child pornography on their phone. So now she could very well disrupt other people life when they have a record for possession of child pron. What go are you trying to get a job with that on your backround?
Dam these kids who don’t think straight and get other in trouble.

[Mr. Saint]

Why does no one here seem to have a problem with electronicly spying on ones kids. Everyone has a right to privacy and that includes over electronic communications . If you want to protect your kids online, then you TALK to them. If you show your kids respect they will respect you.