Rochester, N.Y. - With the touch of a button, you can snap and send a photo to anyone. Problem is, police say kids, as young as elementary school, are now sending nude or semi-nude pictures, not realizing they are going to more than one person.
Irondequoit police say kids don't realize the consequences of sexting or the dangers. Depending on what they are sending and to whom, there could be criminal charges, and penalties ranging from probation to prison time. As teens as young as 16, can be labeled sex offenders, for sending explicit texts and photos to another teen.
Police are now talking to students as young as elementary age, to tell them why this is dangerous and why they shouldn't be doing it. They also encourage parents to educate kids before handing them cell phones or smart phones at young ages.
Mary Whittier, of the Bivona Child Advocacy Center says parents need to monitor kids behavior and cell phone use. Whittier told us: "kids now at younger ages are sexting and sending provactive pictures and seductive poses, they don't realize once they send it, they are sending it everywhere."
