OPP warn again about sexting

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Three teenagers in Simcoe are learning the hard way about the dangers of sexting. Norfolk County OPP have charged them with distributing child pornography. It’s a crime that police say is on the rise and can have deadly consequences.

Many teens nowadays are never far from their phone or a computer. And while much of what they are doing is kept private from their parents, the rest of the world is getting an up close and personal look at their lives.

Cst. Ed Sanchuk, Norfolk County OPP: “You need to have parents really realize that porn culture is becoming pop culture and parents need to be aware of what’s happening and a lot of parents are not aware.”

Aware their teenagers could be sending sexually explicit photos of themselves to friends who then pass those pictures along to others. Norfolk County OPP have charged two teen boys, aged 17 and 18 and a 16-year old girl with distribution of child pornography.

Cst. Sanchuk: “In this case here when you have a person under the age of 18 and there’s an image that’s intentionally distributed in a compromising position, you now are going to be held accountable for your actions.”

This isn’t the first time this kind of thing has happened in Simcoe. In 2012, a number of teenage girls here at Holy Trinity Catholic School took nude photos of themselves and sent them to friends who then passed them on. Police investigated and no charges were laid. In this instance, things have changed.”

The catholic board declined our request for an on camera interview, but said it has made a number of changes since that incident.

Police aren’t saying what school these students attended. Wayne Baker of the Grand Erie District School Board says they have a number of anti-sexting programs in place within the schools, some that allow the student to remain anonymous: “The talking locker for example, where students can go online send a message directly to the ministry. Nobody else will know, but the principal will know who needs assistance.”

Before it’s too late. Sexting can have deadly consequences.

Baker says: “We really want to educate our teens and let them know that this is not socially acceptable. And we need to let them know when they do hit that send button it’s out there for the world to see.”

Sanchuk is urging parents to play a bigger role in educating their kids about the dangers of sexting. The mere act of hitting the send button to pass along these kinds of images is a criminal act and they are cracking down and laying charges.

He also says teen girls feel peer pressure to share video and images like this. They need to know that they don’t have to do it and should report anyone who asks them to.