Texas law on dating under 18 and 16 year old

Separating consensual sexting from nonconsensual sexting and actual child pornography is a critical next step for law enforcement agencies and policy makers to catch up to technology.

Teen behavior and digital invention have outpaced the development of new laws, and this has the potential to have dire legal ramifications for teens. US state laws on sexting vary widely, from decriminalization to misdemeanor charges or prosecution for child pornography with harsh sentences. Studies have shown that sexting is associated with incidences of increased sexual behavior.

More than 40 studies have established that teen sexting occurs relatively frequently and is a rising trend, commensurate with the ubiquity of smartphone ownership in teens. The phenomenon of teen sexting emerged as a result of the proliferation of digital technology.