Parents, teachers, and other adults know that young people take risks as a normal part of developing into responsible adults. But, modern technology has made the consequences of that normal development much more significant. A majority of teenagers use cell phones, and, according to numerous studies, at least 20% of them use their cellphones to share or receive explicit images of other minors, mostly with someone they are dating. Washington’s current laws put these young people at risk of felony prosecution, which could result in a criminal record, sex offender registration, and lifelong barriers to housing, employment, and education. The Responsible Teen Communications Act, SHB 1742 would provide a commonsense approach to this issue. Please vote to pass SHB 1742, the Responsible Teen Communications Act.
SHB 1742 would replace the harsh penalties under current law with investment in developing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies that educate teens to make responsible decisions. It would also retain misdemeanor level criminal penalties for youth who share images of others. This will encourage teenagers to seek out adult help to guide them towards responsible behaviors and to prevent exploitation and harassment. That’s why the Responsible Teen Communications Act is supported by educators, prosecutors, law enforcement, and advocates who work to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence.
Washington state should invest in prevention and education to address teenage sharing of explicit selfies. I ask you to support SHB 1742 and vote for its passage on the floor.
