Teenagers tend to think of themselves as untouchable; that they’re invincible and can always find a way around the rules. More recently, teens have found a way to manipulate a particular app to send naked pictures. The Smartphone app, Snapchat, was initially created for people to send their ugliest faces to their friends and family. Most would feel comfortable sending these gems knowing that their hideous faces would soon be erased forever, since the app will only allow for a picture to be viewed for 10 seconds or less. However, what most have picked up from this app is how easy it is to send a dirty picture to their choosing recipient, believing that once the picture vanishes, it is gone forever, no worries about it resurfacing in the future, right?

 Alas, this is false.

 One of the flaws in this app is that there is the ability to screenshot photos. People can keep ugly photos of their friends for a good laugh or any photo they want to use as blackmail or for safe keeps. Sending nudes to anyone can be used as blackmail to force a girl or boy to do things they don’t want to. There is a real danger is sending such personal photos, teenagers are cruel and selfish by nature, people should not put it past teens to keep them. Also, what many seem to ignore is the fact that anyone under the age of 18 who sends or receives naked pictures is involved in child pornography, which is illegal.

 Teens, particularly girls, seem to think this law is not applicable since the photo “disappears.” Sorry girls, but this is not true, those pictures are engraved into that young boys mind and most photos are seen by Snapchat. You’ve allowed a boy, and possibly others if he screenshots it, to see ALL of you. Those picture’s that “go away” never really go away.

 Why is it that girls feel the need to please guys at the expense of their dignity? Even though the app’s creation probably was for more vulgare use, the vast amount of teens that misuse the app is disgusting. Respect your bodies ladies! Although with the way girls dress these days, it’s practically like showing off their bodies everyday. Even still, sending naked photos is leaving a permanent picture in someone’s mind and on their phone. Why would you risk your future and your reputation for a boy who just wants to get in your pants? Although it may seem like Snapchat’s real underlying creation was for inappropriate pictures to be sent around in a “safe” way. Even if you try, there is no real safe way of sending nudes.

 Snapchat has now promoted people of all ages to send their most ugly or sexy pose they can, with the false thought that there will never be any repercussions from these actions. There is no protection of these photos, especially since Snapchat has been hacked. There was a leak of private account information of millions of Snapchat users, phone numbers and usernames were exposed and are still open to the public. This openness of information is not only unsafe, but can lead to more teens participating in conversations, appropriate or not, with random strangers. Already many teens receive spam from random strangers, some involving pornographic images. The app is increasingly becoming a tool for virtual sex instead of a funny way of communicating with friends.