Case Scenario:
In the days before the dominance of technology in the lives of teenagers and young adults, concerns over peer pressure (stress exerted by friends and classmates) focused on bullying, criminal behavior, drug use, and sexual activity. The arrival of “smart phones” and the ability to send text messages to a wide audience and post short videos on the Internet have brought a new element to concerns over peer pressure at school. A 2008 survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found that 20 percent of teens ages 13 to 19 said they have electronically sent or posted online nude or seminude pictures or video of themselves. Nearly 50 percent of the teen girls surveyed said “pressure from guys” was the reason they shared sexually explicit photos or messages, and boys cited “pressure from friends.” Incidents of “sexting” have increased so quickly that local communities and law enforcement agencies have been caught unprepared. While many consider the incidents to be examples of negligent behavior on the part of the teens involved, the viewing and distribution of such materials could result in charges of felony child pornography and a listing on a sex offender registry for decades to come. In one case, 18-year-old Philip Alpert was convicted of child pornography after distributing a revealing photo of his 16-year-old girlfriend after they got into an argument. He will be labeled a “sex offender” until he is 43 years old. Unfortunately, the dramatic increase in the number of incidents of sexting has brought about tragic consequences. Cincinnati teen Jessie Logan killed herself after nude pictures she had sent to her boyfriend were sent to hundreds of students. Even though only fi ve teens were involved in sending the pictures, their unlimited access to technology allowed them to reach several hundred students in four school districts before the incident was stopped. At the time of writing this case, 15 states are now considering laws to deter teens from sexting without charging them as adult sex offenders.
Q1. In what ways does giving in to peer pressure constitute ethical relativism?
Q2. How could you use your personal value system to fight back against peer pressure?
Q3. How would you communicate the risks of sexting to students who are struggling to deal with peer pressure?
Q4. Is a change in the law the best option for addressing this problem? Why or why not?
Your answer must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one-inch margins on all sides, APA format.