SEXTING – More permanent than a tattoo!

I must get at least a call a day from someone (usually a female) about an Ex who is threatening to post naked pictures they exchanged when they were a couple.  This is not a pleasant prospect for the caller, and their options are limited.

Further, think about the following scenarios – all of which are TRUE!

Scenario 1:  A father of a high school sophomore aged 15 finds out she is sexting with her junior boyfriend aged 17.  The father calls the police who raid the home of the boy and find the pictures on both his phone and his computer.  The boy is charged as an adult with possession of child pornography, and does six months and a year’s probation – and the boy will be on the sexual predator sites for the rest of his life.  His place on the list will be found whenever he is googled (e.g. applying for a job or an apartment.)

But the story doesn’t end there.  The police also subpoenaed the girl’s phone and they found the pictures she sent the boy on the phone.  The police charged the girl with possession of child pornography and she was found guilty – Even though the pictures were of herself!  As a minor she only got probation.

The moral of this story is:  If you are a minor sexting it can and will affect the rest of your life.

Scenario 2:  A man is sexting with a woman who says she is 22 which would be legal.  Unfortunately, the girl lied to the man about her age and she is only 17.  The man is charged with possession of kiddie porn.  As in the first example, he goes to jail, does probation and ends up on the sexual predator list.  It does not matter that the man had a good faith belief the girl was 22.  Her lie cost him everything!

The moral of this story is that you cannot rely on what your sexting partner is telling you.  If they are underage you are breaking serious laws!

Scenario 3:  Two college students are engaged.  They decide to make a sex tape for them to enjoy together in their future life together.  Unfortunately, the girl dumps the boy and they are no longer one happy couple.  Someone goes to the school library and emails the sex tape to every member of the girl’s sorority and every member of the boy’s fraternity.  The sex tape is then posted all over the internet on sex sites.

Even though the girl has a good cause of action against whoever sent these emails, and posted the tape online, because an unmonitored computer was used to upload the tape, no one can be proved to be the culprit.

The girl is now spending a lot of time searching for the tape online and trying to get it removed from the sex sites.  This video of her will haunt her for the rest of her life.  How will she show her face at future reunions?

The moral of this story is – no matter how good you think your relationship with your sexting partner; life happens and your pictures can be spread all over.

Scenario 4:  In a previous blog I mentioned the e-Blackmail that can occur when sexting; you should be aware of this problem also.

There are many, many more war stories I could tell you about sexting, but I think you are getting the gist of my post:  Sexting will only get you into trouble.  Please, don’t engage in sexting; and be aware that pictures like these on the Internet will haunt you for the rest of your life.

While getting a tattoo removed is a painful surgery, at least you can get it removed.  Pictures like these on the Internet will last forever!