Technology has been quite a boon to our society. We now can communicate with people all over the world instantly and keep in touch with friends and family with a touch of a button. But with all the perks comes some danger of misuse, and that’s where responsibility comes in.

The circulation of graphic photos of teen girls via cell phone at Salem High School is a shocking thing. To think of our own daughters taking these photos or having them taken is something no parent wants to imagine as a possibility.

There has been talk of the teens involved being brought up on charges, since some of the girls were younger than 15, but that looks like a remote possibility now. Police say there were no victims in this case, as the photos were sent out originally by the girls themselves.

It’s mainly a case of having the opportunity to do something and then doing it impulsively, without thinking of the consequences, whether legal or moral.

We can point fingers at society, blame the insidious influence of TV, movies and advertising as they bring more graphic sexual images into our homes and the minds of our children. And it seems that some kids today value “hotness” over any other personal attribute.

But what it finally comes down to is teaching responsibility. We have to find ways to counteract these worldly influences.

It sounds glib to say you should spend more time away from TV and video games and talk to your children about the dangers technology can pose, but really, it’s the only thing we can do.

It’s our job to teach our daughters to not debase themselves and our sons to respect women and not see them as objects. As parents, we try to do all we can to raise good children and keep them safe from danger. We simply have to do more.

- Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board.

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