"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
A picture taken with a camera phone.
Nothing to it, huh?
But in just that instant, lives can be changed forever.
Some teenagers have been using camera phones to send sexually provocative pictures to each other.
It's called "Sexting".
Sexting often starts with young girls sending pictures of themselves to boys.
Problem is, once you send that picture out, you can never - I repeat NEVER - get it back.
You also have no control over what happens to it.
You break up with the guy and he wants to get even...
He can send it to friends or put it online.
THAT presents another serious situation.
Teens who pass along pictures of their underage friends are being charged as sex offenders - a felony crime.
Just having the pictures on your phone is considered child pornography.
Prison time.
On the registered sex offender list.
Kids have always done daring, crazy things.
But in this case, the punishment may be too harsh for the crime.
Here's the bottom line.
We live in a new technological age.
Cameras are everywhere. The internet shows everything.
Talk to your teenagers...tell them that they must be smarter.
DON'T ever take sexually explicit pictures of themselves, nor send them to anyone.
Treat yourself with more respect.
In an instant, your life can be changed FOREVER!
Because WBTV is "On Your Side," we encourage everyone to "Speak Out" - tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
