I read recently, and I wish I could remember where, that mental health professionals are coming to an understanding that sexting is evolving into an ordinary and healthy part of adolescent sexual development.

But as you pointed out, the dangers are real.

Something to keep in mind is that boys are also subject to abuse, particularly if they identify as LGBTQ.

I wrote a story about a year ago about a high school boy whose intimate messages to another boy ended up spread around school, which effectively outed him.

He killed himself.

I doubt any law can ever stop people from behaving badly, but I wish teens could be made more aware of the problems.

Part of the problem may be that adults are too fast to blanket condemn sexting. If we stop there and just say that is always bad, then we can’t help kids understand how to negotiate the dangerous.