Social Consequences of Sexting Can Be Lifelong

It takes just a few seconds: A few clicks of a cellphone camera and a quick text message, and what may be seen as a harmless flirtation is flying through wireless networks or the Internet.

But, as Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office (GCPO) Det. Sgt. Steven LaPorta, said, when things go wrong–and they often do–those photos aren’t so harmless, and the regrets of sexting last a lifetime.

“Once it’s gone, you’re never going to get it back,” LaPorta said, during his presentation at the Southern New Jersey Prosecutors School Safety and Security Conference. “These images are never going away.”

LaPorta, who runs the high-tech crimes unit for the GCPO, said those future effects are something teens just don’t consider in the moment.

“They’re not worried about the consequences they’ll be faced with four, five, 10 years down the line,” he said.

And thanks to a Google Images search, that seemingly-private photo could turn up on the desk of a potential employer or a college recruiter, with disastrous effects.

But it goes beyond that, LaPorta said–in the world of social media, it’s easier than ever to share those photos, and that much harder to make sure they don’t go out beyond their intended audience.

“Think before you post,” LaPorta said. “The social consequences are damaging and dangerous.”

West Deptford High School principal Brian Gismondi, who previously served as principal of the middle school, said the challenge is teaching kids, starting as young as seventh grade, they can hurt themselves in the process.

“I don’t think they get that,” he said, pointing to a study LaPorta mentioned that indicated the vast majority of teens understand that sexting is a bad idea, but do it anyway.

Part of the problem lies in how quickly technology has advanced, both Gismondi and LaPorta said. Nearly every cellphone on the market has a camera built in, and smartphones keep kids connected to the Internet from their pocket, and LaPorta urged parents to take a proactive role in how their children use those devices.

“Today, kids have everything right in the palm of their hand,” LaPorta said.

And, as LaPorta pointed out, sexting doesn’t just cause harm to teens. Recent scandals involving politicians, from Rep. Anthony Weiner to Cumberland County freeholder Louis Magazzu, have seen careers brought down by a few, ill-advised photos.

Besides the social and personal costs, there are potential serious legal issues with sexting, including child pornography charges that have landed some teens on sex offender lists. That may change, though, as the state Assembly and Senate have passed identical bills that would divert kids who are caught sexting into an education program, rather than having them face criminal charges.

It hasn’t been an issue to this point in Gloucester County, Prosecutor Sean Dalton said, with zero instances of criminal charges for sexting.

“We would much rather see these situations handled outside the criminal justice system,” Dalton said. “Hopefully we’ll never have to do that.”