What would you do?

[Anonymous]

I occasionally go through my 16 year old son's texts (he knows this is something I can do, but bc I do it so infrequently, I think he mainly forgets). This morning I saw he sent a nude pix of himself from the shoulders down to a number I did not know with the text "no face yet." Background- he came out as gay 2 years ago and has never dated, as far as I know. He takes nude photos of himself which I have also seen on his IPad but I thought he was just keeping them to himself.

I don't necessarily want to tell him I found these unless there is a risk or danger bc he will feel like I am invading his privacy and he may completely shut down and start doing something secretly in some way I won't be able to see. He has taken a "cyber safe" course before and I know he knows it is a dangerous world out there, as we talk about it openly as a family.

What would you do?

[Anonymous]

I would take away all his electronics because he's clearly not mature enough to have them. And then I would tell him why this is a terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take away all his electronics because he's clearly not mature enough to have them. And then I would tell him why this is a terrible idea.

This. He’s at risk of falling prey to a sextortion scam. I’m not trying to be hyperbolic, but kids have killed themselves after falling for this and feeling trapped with no way out.

At 16, he should have the expectation that his parents can see his texts at any time. This isn’t okay. It puts him at risk, and if it is innocent, it puts the receiver at risk of being in possession of child porn. You have to deal with this. Parent up.

[Anonymous]

This IS dangerous. Obviously he's sending this to someone he doesn't know, hence the no faces yet. Also, he can get in trouble for sending underage nudes.

[Anonymous]

This is so extremely dangerous. I am shocked that you don’t get it. And, speaking as a mom of a boy who came out as gay in HS, there are so many predators.

[Anonymous]

This has to be a troll. No one sees nude pics of their underage kid and thinks “oh, they are probably just for themselves so I will just ignore them.”

[Anonymous]

He could be convicted of distributing child porn.

[Anonymous]

I would take the door off the bedroom and confiscate all electronics for at least a year. If he has a car that’s gone until college.

[Anonymous]

When my tweens got phones I sat them down and explained under no circumstance were they took take pics of their bodies or anyone else bodies and text them. I explained that it’s a crime to do this. Was very strict and said if I ever see or find out about this—phone is taken away. We had a boy in our high school that faced charges for passing around a nude pic of a girl. Explain the consequences. These are felony charges and go on your permanent record. Don’t be stupid. You can be listed on the sex offender list for your life. What college or job will offer you admissions or a job. Think before you do something stupid that will go in your record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He could be convicted of distributing child porn.

[b]

This. Happened at our school. In that case, the mom saw nude pix on her daughter’s phone. She reported it. FBI got involved and charged her own daughter who was sending it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He could be convicted of distributing child porn.

[b]

This. Happened at our school. In that case, the mom saw nude pix on her daughter’s phone. She reported it. FBI got involved and charged her own daughter who was sending it!

That mom is stupid she should have consulted with an attorney before reporting her kid.