By M. Drexler

Most everyone has heard of the infamous sex tape scandals that are seen in the media. They often involve not so well known stars that supposedly have no idea how the tapes were leaked.  But next thing you know these celebrities are getting rewarded with talk show interviews, posing on magazine covers, and the most common sex tape scandal follow up: a reality show.  We all know that celebrities act as role models for youth, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when teenagers act in similar ways by sending their significant others nude pics via text message.  This is a phenomenon known as “sexting”.  However these young people are not being rewarded with their own T.V. show but instead with charges being pressed against them.  These minors are being charged as sex offenders, a life-long title, because they are supposedly creating and publishing child pornography.
How are these minors supposed to know that there are consequences for their “sexting” when their celebrity idols get rewarded with popularity and fame?  Paris Hilton is now a household name because everyone knew of her sex tape.  Kim Kardashian got her own show and is now one of the most popular celebrites out there.  NONE of these sex tape scandal victims have been punished for their mistakes and experimentation, so why should a teenager?  Especially when they only learned it from these STARS.  It seems as though minors are always getting blamed and punished for their mistakes when they only make them so they can learn and grow.  Adults should understand this and not punish them for it, especially with severe charges like being a sex offender.  These celebrities are the ones who should be punished for their irresponsible actions.  I mean, they’re grown! Why are their mistakes seen as opportunities for more FAME and publicity when the  mistakes of these teenagers are seen as crimes?  There is no room in society for teenagers to grow and learn from their mistakes without having to face severe consequences.  This is only going to result in more negative behavior, and probably much worse than the act of ”sexting”.

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