Miami wants to lead in halting 'sexting'

MIAMI, July 10 (UPI) -- The head of the Miami-Dade school district says he wants to work with government and law enforcement to combat the practice that teenagers call "sexting."

School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho would like his district to develop a cutting-edge policy to stop teens from sending sexy or nude photos over their cellphones, The Miami Herald reported Friday.

Because "sexting" can be considered pornography, young people who send pictures of themselves or their classmates can be charged with a felony.

"This is to protect kids, to make them aware of the legal implications of some of their virtual transactions," Carvalho said.

Mindy Gould, who heads the Miami-Dade Council of PTAs/PTSAs, says she welcomes an opportunity to work with the district on developing a plan.

"I'm glad the district is taking a strong position," she says.

A recent survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found one in five teens said they had sent nude photos or videos of themselves.