December 10, 2008 Teens use cell phones to send nude pictures Play video

(Brad Puffer, NECN) - A new study shows a disturbing trend among teens cell phone use. Sure they talk a lot. But this study shows 1 in 5 teenagers have actually sent from their phone, or posted online, nude photos of themselves.

"It's something that as always risky and exciting and it has become more popular because it is easier to do and more accessible."

Dr. David Bickham is with the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children's Hopistal. They did not perform the survey - but find the results disturbing.

"Kids are being sexualized younger, they see it in the media and then they have the materials to make their own media so what I think is happening they are acting and making media, taking pictures, making videos, that reflect the type of media they see a lot of."

"I hope it will wake parents up, I hope it will wake kids up, I hope it will wake up schools."

Superintendent Keith Pfeifer of the Sanborn Regional School district in NH recently suspended a student for taking and sending a nude photo. Around the same time last month, the High School in Salem, NH discovered cell phone pictures of a 15-year-old girl and an eighth grade girl.

"Those photos were being transferred in school from student to student to student"

"In response to Sanborn and Salem's incidents, the County Attorney met with students, explaining that this activity isn't just harmless behavior, it could be considered disseminating child pornography,

"Something that may seem like a lark low level can really transfer to very high level consequences"

And there are high profile example like when High School Musical Star Vanessa Hudgens sent nude photos of herself to fellow actor Drake Bell. The photos ended up on the Internet.

"They know that the Internet is worldwide and these pictures can go anywhere to know that and really understanding that at a personal level are very different."

Nobody was ever arrested or charge in NH, but officials hope that at least parents and teenagers are more educated than before.