Family begins campaign against 'sexting'

CINCINNATI, March 22 (UPI) -- Family members of an Ohio teenager who committed suicide after a nude photo of her was circulated by cell phone say they want laws to protect other teens.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Sunday that Jessica Logan, 18, hanged herself after she was taunted for weeks by other classmates who circulated the photo she had sent to her boyfriend in a practice known as "sexting."

Logan's parents say their daughter's high school did not do enough to protect their child. They want states to amend vague laws to target sexting.

"My only baby that I will never be able to touch again," Cynthia Logan said. "I will never have grandchildren. I will never be able to hand down my heirlooms. I'm just devastated by these parents that allow their children to do and say anything they want."

Cynthia Logan and Parry Aftab, an attorney and one of the leading authorities on Internet security and cyberbullying, are pressing forward with a national campaign to educate teenagers on the dangers of sexting.

"Schools need to understand our kids are targeting each other and how technology is being used as a weapon," Aftab said. "None of them (the schools) know what to do. Many of them ... think it's not their problem. They want to close their eyes and put fingers in their ears, saying it's a home issue."