Six Pennsylvania high school students are facing child pornography charges, after an increasingly popular practice known as “sexting.” This happened after three teenage girls allegedly took nude or semi-nude photos of themselves, and afterwards shared them with male classmates via their cell phones. The female students ar all 14- or 15-years-old and they study at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg.

All of them face charges of manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child pornography. Meanwhile, the boys, with ages of 16 or 17, face charges of possession of child porn. According to the police, the photos were discovered in October, after school officials seized a cell phone from a male student. He was using it in violation of school rules. They found a nude photo of a classmate on it, and then police were called. Their investigation led to the discovery of other cell phones containing even more photos.

As for the school district, it issued a statement on Tuesday, stating that the investigation turned up no evidence of inappropriate activity on school grounds. School officials did not learn of the charges against the students until Monday. Authorities decided to file the child pornography charges in order to send a strong message to other minors who might consider doing the same things.

Why is this so dangerous? Well, the cell phone can easily be put on the Internet, where everywhere in the world can get access to those pictures. However, by now, some defense attorneys have already said the prosecution of minors for photos they took themselves runs counter to the purpose of both state and federal child pornography laws.

A potential conviction may have serious implications, including forcing the children to register as sexual offenders for at least 10 years. However, it looks like there have been a handful of similar cases and several convictions by now.

A recent survey made by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy showed last month that 20% of teens and young adults had sent or posted nude of semi nude photos or videos of themselves. That number was slightly higher for teenage girls, 22 percent, versus boy, 18 percent.

It will surely be a much-discussed subject, as many people see no sense in using those same statutes applied on predatory creeps to go after juveniles who naively, misguidedly, take nude photos of themselves and send them to others. It's clear that modern technology has given kids an unprecedented ability to become photographers and publishers. Anyway, it's sure this case will probably determine other kids at that high school to not act this way under no circumstances.