{"id":352017,"date":"2023-08-23T09:52:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T14:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/child-pornography-and-selfies-what-you-need-to-know.html"},"modified":"2023-08-23T09:52:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T14:52:05","slug":"child-pornography-and-selfies-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/child-pornography-and-selfies-what-you-need-to-know.html","title":{"rendered":"Child Pornography and Selfies: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Child Pornography and Selfies: What You Need to Know<\/h1>\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Child pornography is any visual depiction of sexual content involving a minor. It also includes explicit pictures and videos that a child takes of themselves. Children and teens may face criminal charges for creating and sharing this content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Some teens, already prone to oversharing, take many selfies daily. When teens find themselves in intimate relationships, they may also engage in sexting<\/a>. Sexting involves sending explicit images and\/or messages via text message. This could be a nude or partially nude selfie that someone sends to their partner.
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With so much digital media in daily life, young people may not consider the potential for criminal liability. Yet selfies involving underage nudity or sexual situations may violate child pornography<\/a> laws. Criminal allegations of this serious nature often shock parents, who may want to consult with a juvenile crime defense lawyer<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Read on to learn more about child pornography and selfies. Can states draw a line between harmless attention-seeking behavior and criminal conduct?<\/p>\r\n

Definitions of Child Pornography<\/h2>\r\n

Technology moves much faster than the law. That means crimes committed via social media and internet-capable devices may sometimes evade prosecution.<\/p>\r\n

Under federal law, child pornography involves any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor<\/a>. This is also the standard that would apply to selfies. State law definitions are similar. A minor is a person who has not reached the age of majority. In most states, this is a person under 18 years old.<\/p>\r\n

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutes child pornography offenses occurring across state lines and almost anytime it involves the internet. The DOJ also brings federal charges in cases of importation of child porn from other countries into the United States. You can review federal child pornography laws at 18 U.S.C. Sections 2251-2260<\/a>. These laws include the federal crime of sexual exploitation of children.<\/p>\r\n

Law enforcement can bring criminal charges in both federal courts and state courts. Many state laws against child pornography mirror federal laws. Sometimes, they may be more comprehensive. States define the elements of their crimes. They set forth what constitutes sexual conduct or sexual activity. They determine who is considered a minor. For example:<\/p>\r\n