OSWEGO -- The Oswego Police have issued an alert to parents over sexting. Read the alert below:
The Oswego City Police Department wishes to alert citizens to a growing problem regarding our youth and the potential harm that can come from improper use of technology.
You may, or may not, have heard of "sexting" where explicit photographs are sent electronically between parties. This is usually done between people who are on good terms and, at the time, may seem like harmless fun. Unfortunately, circumstances and friendships change over time, and what once seemed like harmless fun, ends up causing potentially disastrous results. It is important to realize that once information (i.e. a photograph or video) is disseminated to either another party or posted on the internet, the owner relinquishes all control over what will then happen to that information. A photograph or video can be saved, forwarded, or re-posted by anyone else, at any other time.
Just recently, February 2, 2010, in the City of Oswego, a 16 year old male was criminally charged by Oswego Police with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, after an investigation determined that the defendant had allegedly sent nude photographs of another person, less than 17 years of age, to several of his friends. The defendant in this case was additionally charged with Robbery in the 3rd Degree and a second count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child for allegedly forcibly stealing a cell phone from a victim. The defendant was arraigned on the charges in Oswego City Court where he was remanded to the Oswego County Jail in lieu of $1,000.00 bail with a return court date of February 9, 2010.
According to Police Chief Michael J. Dehm Jr. "It is incumbent upon all of us to educate our youth regarding the appropriate use of technology in today's world. Used correctly, information technology systems, such as computers or cell phones, can do great things and be of an enormous benefit to us all. Used inappropriately, or recklessly, it can have devastating consequences that may last a lifetime."
