Govt urges parents to invade childrens privacy (1 Viewer)

[Ben Netanyahu]

PARENTS will be urged to snoop on their children in a bid to halt an alarming rise in the number of teenagers sending sexual images of themselves via mobile phone.

A State Government campaign starting this week will remind youngsters and their parents that the growing practice of sending saucy pictures through cyberspace can have lifetime consequences.

Horrified by increasing evidence that more and more vulnerable girls are capitulating to their boyfriends' demands for sexy pictures, Community Services Minister Linda Burney will hit the airwaves to warn against such momentary madness.

Schools will receive no-holds-barred fact-sheets warning parents that "sexting" can haunt their kids for life, damaging careers and relationships. In a blunt warning, the fact-sheets explain it takes only the click of a button to "forward them or load them onto the internet".

"These pictures then become part of a young person's 'digital footprint', lasting forever and potentially damaging future career prospects or relationships," they say.

"The easy availability of new technologies and social networking sites can turn what can seem an innocent joke or flirtatious fun into a potentially devastating experience - with young girls most at risk. Sexting can lead to public humiliation, cyber bullying or even sexual assault."

Ms Burney said more parents were contacting counsellors at the State Government-funded Parent Line with chilling accounts of sexting. "There is an urgent need for us to address this issue quickly," she said."I urge parents to warn their children about the consequences of sexting."

She said the Community Services Department had received reports of girls as young as 13 sending sexually explicit images to their boyfriends' mobiles, which are then passed on to their friends.

"Everyone needs to understand that, first and foremost, it is illegal to take sexual photos of children and young people and it is also an offence to pass them on," she said.



"Young people do not often think about the consequences of their actions. What they now think is an innocent joke or just flirting can be very damaging if it falls into the wrong hands."

In a shift away from previous advice that kids need some space and privacy, the new campaign will urge parents to learn how to use and monitor their children's mobile phones, and check photo galleries on their children's Facebook and MySpace accounts.

Australian Family Association spokesman John Morrissey said there was a big difference between reading a child's diary - which was private - and checking their electronic communications.

"The phone and Facebook are not private and parents need to stress that to their children," Mr Morrissey said.

Parents' and Citizens Association president Dianne Giblin said technology was developing at a faster rate than security systems which could make it safe. The real risk of sexting was that it often was not identified until after the first instance, and then it was too late.

A Sydney schoolgirl agreed to her boyfriend's request to take a photo of herself naked and SMS it to him. A year later they broke up and, as payback, he sent the image to fellow students, as well as people outside their school.

A male student borrowed a female friend's phone and found a picture on the screensaver of a teenager performing a sexual act. NSW Police were called in and are considering laying pornography charges against the girl.

A Sydney father of three teenage daughters was shocked when a workmate showed him phone footage of a 15-year-old girl having sex with two men. He could see the girl's face. Worried about his own daughters, he reported his workmate to police.

The case of Jesse Logan shocked America. The 18-year-old from Ohio hanged herself after an ex-boyfriend distributed nude photos she had sent him of herself via phone and she was bullied by her peers.

In New Jersey, a 14-year-old schoolgirl has been accused of distributing child pornography after posting nearly 30 nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com - charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.

lol complete failure to understand the situation lol

 

[44Ronin]

Nanny State

 

[Ben Netanyahu]

govt moves 2 stop almost raep

 

[44Ronin]

Gov't is naive if it thinks it can stop people from being dumb. I mean, it can't stop me

 

[SylviaB]

facepalm.jpg

 

[Ben Netanyahu]

but hevving nekked pix of self will harm ur job prospects!

 

[Lentern]

How much do these awareness campaigns cost? On one hand I think go for your life. What's the worst that can come from saying "mums, dads just try and be a little more intrusive." But if we're throwing wads of cash into getting ads on then i'm not a fan.

 

[Uncle]

their brain smaller than their pills they not think of consequences.
they fault.
outburst of laughter will follow shortly.

 

[ZaraKu]

welcome to Austra-China lol

 

[Pain]

They're trying to do what they think is neccasary. Even if it means failing beyond all conceivable means. At least they try...at least they try.

 

[katie tully]

Dude.

lol.

I'm stuck for words.

 

[hermand]

In New Jersey, a 14-year-old schoolgirl has been accused of distributing child pornography after posting nearly 30 nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com - charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.

effing hilarious.

 

[ZaraKu]

lolz let's put nude pics on myspace, pretty sure that gets you an instant ban on there, unless Tom's secretly into kiddie porn lol

 

[Serius]

i am trying not to lol so much, especially about the 15 yr old girl in a gangbang.

 

[sinophile]

This is just retarded.

Politicians and parents should stop being reactionary fuckwits and exercise some common sense and effort.

 

[muscleman09]

�RedTube - Nokias are Women's best Friends <--- sexting gone wild






on topic, is the majority of victims to the "sexting" females who feel insecure about their bodies and expose them in a bid to receive some sort of male attention, to satisfy their sexual rebellious emotions? I feel sorry for these girls... I just wish i could help them...

hmm, maybe you could all send me some kinky pics of your selves and I will tell you on how to improve your self as a person, spiritually and physically.

PS: when u take the pics, can you do the peace sign and pout with your lips, its such a COOL thing to do!

 

[Omium]

How the heck would the ad run ?

"Have you checked your kids phone today ? "

 

[muscleman09]

How the heck would the ad run ?

"Have you checked your kids phone today ? "

lets make a jingle we can all relate to

sad sad sad, fat fat fat, i dooont know whats wrooong with meeeeeeeeeeeeee


soo i'll take a photo of my fat fat fat, sad sad sad, self!


*Check your Kids phone*



a message brought to you by Hi-5

 

[ZaraKu]

hahaha +1 rep for you sir

 

[fleckar]

on topic, is the majority of victims to the "sexting" females who feel insecure about their bodies and expose them in a bid to receive some sort of male attention, to satisfy their sexual rebellious emotions? I feel sorry for these girls... I just wish i could help them...

Lmfao.