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[bbc] A spate of “sexting” cases in the US has prompted calls for a change in the law. But what is “sexting” and why has it left parents and prosecutors alike wondering how to tackle it?

It may seem like harmless fun to a 15-year-old wanting to impress their new boyfriend or girlfriend.

But the practice of sexting – sending nude or semi-nude images of oneself to others via mobile phones – is having unintended and, in some cases, tragic consequences.

The risk of having one’s private pictures distributed among schoolmates or uploaded on to social-networking websites is only one part of it.

It could also lead to a criminal conviction as a sex offender for any teenager who forwards them on to someone else.

Sending or distributing explicit photos of a child under 18 is, in many countries, illegal. It is also illegal to send such photos to a minor – even if both parties consent to it.

A spate of cases in the United States has seen several “sexting” teenagers arrested on charges of child pornography – alarming parents, school officials, police and prosecutors.

Alarm bells ring over “sexting”