By JC Bowman
For years, parents have worried about online dangers, such as predators, cyberbullying, and harmful content. These threats are real. But there is another danger at home: children using the smartphones we give them to hurt, embarrass, and sometimes even break the law by targeting each other.
In Tennessee, sharing explicit images among minors, often called “sexting,” is a growing problem. It can lead to bullying, coercion, blackmail, and exploitation. Smartphones, apps that send disappearing messages, and artificial intelligence have created a situation in which one impulsive choice can change a young person’s life forever. These inappropriate and illegal sexual behaviors bring young offenders into the criminal justice system.
The uncomfortable truth is that technology isn’t making these decisions. Children are the ones making poor choices. The adults who give them powerful, internet-connected devices need to teach them to use those devices wisely. Sexual behavior problems encompass a range of issues, including contact and non-contact behaviors, pornography use, and compulsive sexual behavior. These problems are not limited to adults; children are now engaging in these behaviors. These problems can negatively impact personal relationships and may include internet-related behaviors, such as viewing inappropriate images and engaging in unsuitable online conversations.
Tennessee law shows that this issue is complex. In most cases involving minors charged with child sexual exploitation, these matters are handled in the juvenile justice system. In Tennessee, if a minor unlawfully uses a telecommunications device, it is treated as an unruly act rather than a criminal offense. The law also offers some protection for a child who accidentally receives explicit images, as long as they quickly delete them or report them to a trusted adult.
This approach makes an important distinction. The aim is not just to punish but to ensure accountability while also focusing on rehabilitation. Parents should not mistake this distinction for leniency.
Sharing or possessing explicit images of minors can lead to juvenile court involvement, school discipline, loss of extracurricular activities, and even the loss of driving privileges. If these images are shared without consent or used to threaten, intimidate, or extort another student, the consequences are far more serious. AI has also become an issue.
Tennessee has seen how quickly situations can escalate. In Giles County, students faced legal trouble after a compromising image of a classmate spread on Snapchat, leading to harassment and threats against the victim. More than ten years ago in Spring Hill, what began as friends sharing sexual messages became a troubling situation. Teenage boys collected nude photos of classmates and blackmailed girls into sending more explicit images. Now, with the rise of artificial intelligence, students can create fake explicit images of classmates that look very real.
Technology has changed, but human nature has not. A growing concern is financial sextortion. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation warns families about criminals who trick minors into sending explicit images. These criminals then demand money, threatening to expose the images publicly. These schemes have harmed many families across the country and, in some tragic cases, have led to youth suicides.
Many children get their first smartphone between ages 10 and 12. By the time they reach middle school, most have a phone capable of taking high-quality photos, connecting to social media, sending encrypted private messages, and creating content with AI. The technical limits that once kept risky behavior in check have largely disappeared.
Parents decide whether their child gets a smartphone or a simpler device. They also decide whether to add social media apps. They determine whether parental controls are used, whether phones stay out of bedrooms at night, whether screen time is tracked, and whether important conversations about consent, digital permanence, bullying, and sextortion occur. These choices are important.
Tennessee has made significant changes in the law. Schools now must report any suspected child sexual exploitation material. There are also increasing restrictions on student phone use during class time. The laws about AI-generated exploitation and online safety are continuing to change. These steps are important. However, the government cannot parent a child after school hours. No law can replace involved parenting.
Experts such as Jonathan Haidt and the “Wait Until 8th” movement suggest that waiting until around age 14 to give kids smartphones can reduce various risks. What matters more than agreeing on the exact age is accepting the key idea: having a smartphone should be a privilege earned through maturity, not merely a milestone reached because of peer pressure.
It is important to have ongoing conversations about body privacy, respecting others, the permanence of online content, and the courage to seek help if a child feels pressured, threatened, or victimized. Parents should teach their children one simple rule: “If you receive an explicit image of another minor, do not save it, forward it, or ignore it. Instead, delete it if the law allows, tell a trusted adult right away, and let responsible adults help everyone involved.”
Our children deserve technology that helps them, not one that traps them. The smartphone is a powerful tool, but it isn’t inherently good or bad. Like all powerful tools, it requires maturity, guidance, and supervision. Giving a child a smartphone without limits isn’t just about technology. It’s a parenting decision that can have legal, emotional, and lifelong impacts.
Keeping children safe in the digital age begins not in the courtroom or the classroom, but in the home. It begins with parents who can say “not yet” to a smartphone, set clear limits, and remember that the best protection for a child isn’t an app—it’s an involved adult.
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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
Legal Notice: Permission to reprint this editorial in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author (or authors) and Professional Educators of Tennessee are properly cited.
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