Laws on underage sexting?

donnut

What are the laws on underage sexting?

I'm just wondering about the laws on underage sexting.
If two people who are the same age, but are both under 18, sext with each other what are the consequences?
I have a friend who has done this and she was telling me that consequences didn't really apply to her because of them being the same age and under 18. To be exact, they're 15.
I was wondering if that was true because I don't think it is.

donnut

Here is info taken directly from the Victorian Legal Aid website about sexting. It is aimed at ensuring young people are aware of the law etc. about this issue. It may seem like harmless fun, but be careful – if you send sexual images electronically or agree to other people taking them of you, they can become part of your 'digital footprint', which may last forever. A 'digital footprint' is basically what people can find if they Google your name. The wrong kind of things can damage your future career prospects or relationships.


'Sexting' is sending nude, sexual or indecent photos (or 'selfies') using a computer, mobile phone or other mobile device. It is a crime if you intentionally send an intimate image of a person under 18 to others, even if they agree to the sext message being sent. You could also be charged by police with child pornography offences. From 2 November 2014 it is also an offence to send a sext message of an adult (18 or over) to others if they do not agree to the image being distributed. The maximum penalty for this offence is two years jail.


From 2 November 2014 you may be charged with an offence if you threaten to send an intimate image of a person to others if the person believes that you will carry out the threat. The maximum penalty for this offence is one year in jail.


Under Victorian law you could be charged with possessing child pornography if you have a film, photograph, publication or computer game that shows a person under 18 (or appears to be under 18) involved in sexual activity or posing in an indecent sexual manner. You could also be charged with producing child pornography if you print a publication, make a film, take a photograph, or create a computer game that shows a person under 18 (or appears to be under 18) involved in sexual activity or posing in an indecent sexual manner.


From 2 November 2014 you can not be prosecuted for child pornography offences if you take, store or send indecent images of yourself. It is also not a child pornography offence if you are under 18 years old and no person in the photo is more than two years younger than you and the photo does not show an act that is serious criminal offence.


This means that your friends can send photos of themselves but must not share photos of each other.


The link for the Victorian Legal Aid page is below. Please check it out for more detailed information.


Don't forget, if you are reading this and are in a different state in Australia or are in another country, the laws there may be different. So make sure you look up the laws for underage sexting in your area.


Many thanks and remember if you are having sex use a condom every time to protect yourself against unintended pregnancy

laicola

Depend on you if no one know !