In December 2010, the District Attorney’s Office began doing sexting PowerPoint presentations to high schools, charter schools and technical schools in Lehigh County.  The presentations by two attorneys in the office discuss “sexting,” which refers to the sending of photographs and images of children or teens that are inappropriate via cell phones and other devices.

Sexting is a growing problem among teens, who often do not realize that their actions can have long-term ramifications.  Teens don’t realize that if they send photographs to others, they lose control over what happens to those photographs, resulting in embarrassment, school disciplinary actions, criminal prosecutions and, in the worst cases, suicides when photographs or videos that were thought to be private are circulated.

The presentations address current Pennsylvania law, cases in the national news and what students should be aware of in their electronic interactions with others.

In 2013, the presentations were expanded to include middle-school students in eight grade.

School administrators who want to schedule a sexting presentation in their schools can call 610-782-3230.