Editorial: 'Sexting' overkill

Any district attorney who said he wanted to pursue one out of every five teenagers on felony child pornography charges would be laughed out of the courthouse - then booted from office by voters at the next election.

But that's the implication of the disturbing crackdowns by prosecutors in upstate Pennsylvania, North Jersey, and other communities over teens' immature practice of circulating racy photos of themselves by cell phone message and online.

Fully one-fifth of teenagers and a third of young adults in their early 20s have told pollsters that they have sent sexually suggestive text messages - so-called sexting - or posted nude or seminude photos of themselves on the Web.

Prosecutors like Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick Jr. say criminal charges against these teens is the best way to send a message on the dangers of children baring themselves in cyberspace. Perhaps, but they are on a fool's errand.

Criminal charges for this brand of adolescent stupidity are the equivalent of going nuclear. Convict a teen under child porn laws and he or she will be branded as a sex offender, forced to register under Megan's Law-style statutes, and basically scarred for life.

Trying to make an example of a few kids also ignores that these are teens and that this practice apparently is more widespread than jaywalking. Trying to stamp it out isn't something for law enforcement officers, but better left to parents and school counselors. Just think back to an earlier generation's opposition to that sexy rock 'n' roll.

Prosecutorial discretion is what's needed here, along with common sense, and a good talking-to for teens and parental supervision of kids' use of phones and the Web. Above all, it's time to remember who the adults are in the room.