Young people who do this should learn how to use PGP/GPG (and crypto mode in IM clients)… and quickly. We are unlikely to get rational law in this area this century, better to make what’s on the books unenforceable.

In the 50s, kids played “Doctor” to see one another’s naughty bits, but that’s because there was no internet. Being horny back then meant you had to be bold and devise some sort of innocent scheme to have a peek.

The possible downside of lingering photos of your nudity is a definite problem, but only for now. In time, maybe we won’t be so puritanical and it won’t be such a big deal. Think about it: you probably look your best as a teen, anyway.

Where are these places??? I remember being a younger man and the wife and I enjoyed our share of “grown-up” chat rooms but I thought those were long gone. Adults need to learn about all the tricks that our kids are sharing with one another. I know they share at a lightning pace, as soon as something new comes along they all know about it – far faster than we could keep up. But your story is so interesting, and scary. Thank God this young lady never lost her way and went looking for something a bit more personal. I used to teach my students about all the stories I could find – young people ending up in basements or ditches somewhere, all after going to find something that was missing at home.

I particularly remember doing so in a MUD called Federation, which was on the GEnie online service. (Yeah, this was before internet access was common… I’m feeling old now.) There was a particular secret room which one player in the game could occupy at a time from which the player spy on any other player and see whatever they were seeing, including any private messages they might be receiving.. that was fun. :-)