Sexting hits Connecticut schools

Waterbury (WTNH) - Texting is going beyond words to what's being called sexting --  teens sending nude pictures of themselves or others via cell phone.

"Recently I guess a picture was sent around of a girl, she was naked and her ex-boyfriend sent it to everybody," said Jose Campos, a high school junior.

Teens know all about this trend but what about their parents?

Cox: "What, as a parent, do you know about sexting?"
Erin Lavery, a parent: "That it is off color and pictures being sent of sexual innuendo, is that correct?"

Jessica Malkin of Hamden said both her middle school daughters have cell phones. She has warned them about sexting even though the girls say it's not happening at their middle school.

"If it's something that you'd be embarrassed to show me, it's not something you should be showing anybody or sending to anybody," said Malkin. "I know it's a serious scary thing but I don't actually know anybody that does it."

A recent survey found 20 percent of teens admit to taking part in some form of sexting. And it's mostly girls' pictures sent from phone to phone.

"Like at lunch, you'll see people like, 'Oh did you see her picture today?' Did you see her picture today?'" said Lindsay Campion, a high school junior.

Sexting can have serious consequences. News Channel 8 got an exclusive look as state police outlined the dangers to students at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury.

"Eventually your picture is out there anywhere and you never ever will be able to get it back; there is just no way to do it," said Sgt. Jim Smith.

The trooper revealed a true story of a 14-year-old girl sending a naked picture of herself to her boyfriend. When they break up, he sends that photo to his friends. So the naked picture ends up on phones, lap tops and computers; not just around school but possibly around the world.

"Oh what a wake up call, I'm like freaking out," said high school junior Jill Hogan.

Sexting can be criminal, a felony for the transmitting or receiving of nude photos of underage individuals. So even the 14-year-old girl could get in trouble for sending that photo of herself.

"They find out you took that picture, you have it on your computer. What you're now facing in the state of Connecticut is three felony charges," said Sgt. Smith.

This means one more thing moms like Malkin have to monitor when it comes to her kids and technology.

"I have talked to my girls about sexting, sending, receiving and it seems like it's trouble on both ends," said Malkin. "Whether you are doing the sending or receiving you can get into quite a bit of trouble."

The State's Attorney's Office revealed to News Channel 8 that at this point no Connecticut teen has been charged in a sexting case. Other states are grappling with the issue.

Advice to parents: if possible buy a cellphone without a camera.