N.J. Kids Receiving Unsolicited Porn Through Smartphone App
GLEN ROCK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Some teenagers and even pre-teens in New Jersey have been finding unsolicited pornographic pictures appearing on their cell phones, only because they use a certain photo app.
As CBS 2's Derricke Dennis reported Wednesday, kids in Glen Rock have been receiving the decidedly adult-oriented photos through the app Snapchat.
"Pretty much everyone I knew who has an iPhone got it, and when I told them about it, they said they had the same problem," said James Hector, 18.
The smart phone pics spread fast at Glen Rock High School and Glen Rock Middle School on Tuesday. The senders had suggestive usernames, and asked the receivers to add them as friends.
Pictures on Snapchat automatically delete seconds after they are opened. But at least one student saved one, and remembered the screen name.
"I think it was 'Sexy Cherry,'" said Justin Padilla, 17, "and it was a naked girl."
"It's pretty gross," said Molly Nedelko, 15. "I mean, they shouldn't be sending it to random guys."
Glen Rock cops were investigating whether the pictures were just wayward spam, or deliberately and illegally sent to minors.
"Kids today don't realize the consequences of sending photos out like that; how it could have a mushroom effect and spread all over," said Glen Rock Police Chief Frederick Stahman.
The pornographic picture scandal was the talk of an Internet safety forum for Glen Rock parents. It was planned in advance, but timely, given the number of children who saw the images.
Among the many parents attending, several said their children received one of the lewd pictures – some sent to boys as young as 13.
"He deleted it right away because as soon as he saw it, he knew that it was wrong, and that he should delete it," said parent Maria Patania.
The warning for parents and teens with smartphones is to report, and then delete, inappropriate messages immediately.
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