Posting a pornographic video on Facebook is never a wise idea—less so when the subjects are under the legal age of consent.
A 14-year-old boy from Gloucestershire, England, posted a video of himself having consensual sex with a girl of the same age. He was arrested and the video was removed from the site. The video was also shared among children in schools.
The boy was given a final warning by police, meaning that the incident will stay on his police record for the next six years.
“We are aware that other children have seen the footage. Officers have spoken to the girl involved and her parents,” a spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said, according to The Telegraph. “We know parents may be concerned by this incident and would obviously advise people not to upload any material of this nature to social media websites.”
The boy can count himself lucky that he didn’t face greater punishment.
“A very common practice among young people at the moment is ‘sexting’ – the act of sending sexually explicit photographs, primarily between mobile phones,” said Inspector Andy Matheson, from Gloucestershire Constabulary’s schools unit. “If the subject of the image is under 18 then anyone who makes, possesses or shares the image commits a criminal offence.”
There have been a number of cases where minors have been charged for sharing nude or sexually explicit videos or photos of other minors. Some juveniles have faced child pornography charges over sharing such images.
Some feel the penalties are too severe. Legislators in Pennsylvania are reportedly attempting to make it a second-degree misdemeanor for minors who intentionally or knowingly record, view, possess, or transmit images of another minor (above the age of 13) engaging in sexually explicit acts. Those who commit such an offence for the first time would be subject to a summary charge and ordered to forfeit their electronic devices, but the offence would not appear on their permanent record.
Currently, offenders in the state face up to 10 years in jail, a $25,000 fine and are registered as sex offenders.
With as many as a fifth of teens having shared nude or semi-nude photos of themselves through mobile phones or online, it’s becoming increasingly important that teens understand the potential consequences of sharing such images of themselves or others.
Photo by Gastev