Public Forum To Address Teen Sexting

SALINE (WWJ) - One community is taking aim at the growing problem of "sexting".

Parents, students and the public are invited to a forum on cyber safety Wednesday evening, hosted by the Saline Area Schools.

School district and law enforcement officials are holding the event because of a number of sexting incidents involving middle school students.

Prosecutors have filed criminal charges against four students ages 13 and 14 accused of sharing sexually explicit photos of themselves with others via cell phone or other handheld devices.

WWJ spoke with Saline police Detective Don Lupi.

"A lot of the kids sometimes don't realize the gravity of their actions. Once they push that send button, there's no taking it back," said Luipi, who added that some of the responsbility falls on parents.

"Too many parents had a cell phone to their child and have no clue what's going on with that cell phone. There are various programs that can be put on children's phones to moniter," he said.

The forum, "Stop. Think. Connect: Do you know what your kids are doing on-line,"  will begin at 7 p.m. at the Saline Middle School Auditorium, 7190 N Maple Road, Saline.