Teens Using Cell Phones To Send Nude Photos
By: John Vinson
If there’s one thing I can’t seem to catch up on, it’s cell phone technology. I might be on my way to a nursing home with this statement, but what happened to, “using a phone to call somebody”. I still haven’t really bought into the texting, internet browsing, picture taking, software/application phenomenon that has swept the globe. Why would I want to take pictures using a crappy cell phone camera, when I have a perfectly good digital camera? And why would I want to surf the internet, when I have a computer hooked up that provides a better picture and connection speed?
While these questions might be hitting home for a older, wiser crowd, they are mostly lost on the teens of today. I know people that will be at home, texting away on their cell phones, using up data plan usage instead of IM’ing for free using AIM. I’ve been out with people who have cameras with them, and still pull out their phones to take memorable shots. But apparently the new fad gaining ground, is teens using these cell phone cameras to take nude pictures, and messaging them to one another. All the while, someone will take said photo, post it online, and others will have a chance to check it out.
Of course eventually the parents find out about what’s happened, and the proverbial jaws hit the floor. These same parents who rolled around naked in mud at Woodstock (maybe too old a reference), with people they barely knew, and taking drugs from people they barely knew. The point is, kids are going to be stupid. I believe there is a genetic imprint for all teens, for performing acts that defy logic and decency. Helen A.S. Popkin, of MSNBC got it right, “Kids do stupid things. No need to stop the presses here….The big difference now is that kids have more and better tools to be dumb with. Also, there’s that whole disintegration between private and public, thanks to the Internet.”
I don’t think the nail could be hit any more center on the head. I could easily go into detail of the crazy, and stupid things I did as a teen. I won’t because those things should be kept as private as possible. Unfortunately for teens today, the stupid acts not only get found out by parents, but for anyone who knows of said act and has a MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter account.
I might be a common sense sort of person, but if I found out my kid was using a cell phone to advertise nude photos, the solution would be simple. Take the phone, and either hide it or smash it. Then provide the child with a one of the basic phones advertised for senior citizens, and send them on their merry way. So, if there happens to be any teens reading this, take my advice. If you do anything silly, stupid, or outrageous, try and keep it as private as possible. Believe me, the less people know about it, the better.