'Sexting' is a relatively new term for sending text messages or images of a sexual nature via cell phone. The practice has become particularly popular among teens and is causing controversy on school grounds throughout the U.S.South Town Star: 'Sexting' causing stir around nation

In March 2009 a group of middle school students were punished for sexting at the McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos, California. The nude photograph of a 14-year-old girl was passed around to less than ten students after she first sent it to a friend. The students received in-house suspensions. Orange County officials did not report on the incident, but indicated that if adults had been involved charges would have been filed.Orange County Register: Students caught 'sexting' at Los Alamitos... (March 16, 2009)

On March 6, 2009, Cynthia Logan, mother of Jesse Logan, went on The Today Show, sharing the tragic story of her daughter's death and how it related to sexting. Logan is calling for more accountability from schools where sexting has become a problem.MSNBC: Her teen committed suicide... (March 6, 2009)

In January 2009, six Pennsylvania teens were accused of 'sexting' and charged with child pornography. Three girls, aged 14 and 15, sent semi-nude photos to three boys, aged 16 and 17. The images were discovered after one of the girl's phones was confiscated on campus.Fox News: 6 Pennsylvania Teens Charged With Cell Phone 'Sexting' (Januar 13, 2009)

A new report has shown that nearly one-third of teens have had X-rated images or videos sent to their cell phones. Most are from a boyfriend or girlfriend, but they often find their way to other young people's cellular devices as well.Minor Troubles: Report: 1 in 5 teens send nude pics of themselves by phone

More police departments across the country are investing more resources into the investigation of sexting, as it is illegal to possess, distribute or manufacture pornography involving anyone under the age of 18.

"I do think people over 40 grew up with a different sense of this stuff. Unfamiliarity with the technology plus hearing about some of these extreme stories on the news can combine to make parents feel so overwhelmed and intimidated that they just don't want to deal with it."—Marisa Nightingale of the non-profit National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy USA Today" Flirting goes high-tech with racy photos shared on cellphones, Web

"There's some girls that send out pictures of themselves and it ends up going around to hundreds of people, like all different schools...They get in trouble with their parents and they get a bad reputation."—Blake Keats, 13-year-old from Montgomery County, Florida10connects.com: "Sexting" and the fight to protect teens