BOONE COUNTY, MO. -- Administrators with a Columbia shelter for abused and neglected children are hosting a community forum on “sexting” at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Columbia Public Library Friends room. The forum is free and open to the public.
According to national statistics, one in four teenage girls has engaged in what law enforcement refers to as “sexting”.
“Sexting” is the act of sending sexually suggestive messages or explicit images by text message, e-mail or instant messaging. As part of child abuse prevention month, Columbia’s Rainbow House has partnered with the Boone County Sheriff's Department's Internet Crimes Task Force to host a community forum on the implications and consequences facing young people when they “Sext” each other.
“As these kids grow up, it could affect their opportunities to go to the college they want to," Task Force Coordinator Detective Andy Anderson said. "It could affect their job opportunities and things of that nature. Someone could have long lasting and sometime devastating effects.”
Many parents are unaware that their teens and other young adults participate in “sexting”. Just this month, Anderson referred five teenagers to Boone County Juvenile Court for “sexting”. Prosecutors said they want to help these young people, not punish them.
“What is important for parents to know is that no one is trying to go after their children, to brand them as bad people or sex offenders," Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Merilee Crockett said. "Really, we are trying to protect the kids from having consequences down the road.”
Authorities said they have received reports of “sexting” from every high school and junior high school in Boone County. This is not just a Boone County problem. Authorities said the problem of “sexting” is a growing across Missouri as well as the rest of the nation.
Click on the link below, for more information on the consequences of “sexting”.
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