Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico;
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Pediatrics. 2019 May;143(5). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3183. Epub 2019 Apr 15.
The phenomenon of teen sexting emerged as a result of the proliferation of digital technology. More than 40 studies have established that teen sexting occurs relatively frequently and is a rising trend, commensurate with the ubiquity of smartphone ownership in teens. Studies have shown that sexting is associated with incidences of increased sexual behavior. US state laws on sexting vary widely, from decriminalization to misdemeanor charges or prosecution for child pornography with harsh sentences. Teen behavior and digital invention have outpaced the development of new laws, and this has the potential to have dire legal ramifications for teens. Separating consensual sexting from nonconsensual sexting and actual child pornography is a critical next step for law enforcement agencies and policy makers to catch up to technology. In this article, we argue that consensual teen-to-teen sexting does not warrant law enforcement involvement but rather is a health and education issue that is better addressed at home, in schools, and in primary care.
青少年发色情短信这一现象是数字技术普及的结果。超过 40 项研究已经证实，青少年发色情短信的现象相当普遍，而且呈上升趋势，这与青少年普遍拥有智能手机是一致的。研究表明，发色情短信与性行为增加有关。美国各州关于发色情短信的法律差异很大，从非刑事犯罪到对持有儿童色情制品的轻罪指控或起诉，以及严厉的判决。青少年行为和数字发明已经超过了新法律的发展，这有可能给青少年带来严重的法律后果。将双方自愿的青少年之间的色情短信与非自愿的色情短信和实际的儿童色情制品区分开来，是执法机构和政策制定者跟上技术发展的关键下一步。在本文中，我们认为，双方自愿的青少年之间的色情短信不需要执法部门介入，而是一个健康和教育问题，最好在家庭、学校和初级保健中解决。
