"Sexting"

This week’s homework assignment got me to thinking. What’s your opinion on “sexting”? 

Now if you don’t know what “sexting” is, it is a sexually explicit text usually depicting a nude or semi-nude body or body part. It is typically sent between adults, but recently, we have seen a surge of this activity between our young people.

As of April 1^st, “sexting” between two minors will no longer be charged as a felony, but rather education and counseling suggested. I think this a fantastic step in the right direction. Sometimes our young people do not understand the consequences of their actions and are often acting out due to peer pressure. Before this new definition was added to the statute, “sexting” between minors could be charged as a felony, possibly ruining the minor’s life forever.  Being branded a “sex offender” or a “sexual deviant” would have consequences they could never foresee (i.e. at the time of sending the “sext”)

Do you feel “sexting” between minors should even be in the statute? For example, should we leave it up to the parents to discipline the child? What about when the “sext” lands in the hands of an adult? What’s right? What’s too far? Does this infringe on a person’s freedom of speech?