There is a major problem in the mobile world today in the form of transferring explicit content.  Several children have been caught sending each other naked photos over mobile devices, including Disney High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens.  But another major concern is whether these children should be punished by having to register as sex offenders.  THe government in Vermont decided against this.

The Senate in Vermont passed a bill that would remove the legal consequences for teenagers that “sext” each other.  The legislation has to pass through the House as well.  However this would only apply for children between the ages of 13-18 and as long as they voluntarily transmitted it themselves.  Anyone that is older that participates in “sexting” involving a minor will be registered as a sex offender.  The state of Vermont has been stepping up in terms of taking down sexual predators.

“We felt that it’s poor behavior and it’s not something we want to give our OK to,” stated Senator Richard Sears. “But at the same time, do we want a kid in jail? Do we want them tagged as a sex offender for the rest of their lives? And the answer is no.”

Last month, a 14 year old girl in New Jersey posted nude pictures on her MySpace page.  Rather than being punished by juvenile standards, she was charged for being in possession of child pornography.  This has been one of the most controversial cases in social media thus far.

What are your thoughts on this controversial subject?  Should children that engage in “sexting” be considered sex offenders? Let us know in the comments.

[via Associated Press]