Christie Bonesch, a lawyer and Chief Deputy District Attorney for Lehigh County, visited Southern Lehigh High School on January 23rd to speak about sexting.
The assembly opened with a slideshow that read “Let’s Talk About ‘Sexting.’” Sexting is different from texting because of the sexually explicit nature of the picture in the text.
The issue of sexting is important because once a person takes a photo or hits send, he or she loses control of the photo. While one may not think that the person on the other end will do anything with it, there is no way to truly know.
Even if the photos aren’t sent, there is a risk of hackers gaining access to the photos. Police can also access the photos even after they’ve been deleted.
Anyone involved in sexting could run the risk of getting a summary offense, a misdemeanor, or even be forced to register with Megan’s Law. Guilty parties could also face five to ten years in prison.
Students have various resources they can use after receiving a sext. These resources include guidance counselors, school resource officers, and trusted teachers, and you can always contact the authorities if outside the building.
