COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Candid photographs of celebrity Scarlett Johansson surfaced on the Internet Wednesday, months after the FBI reported it was investigating an alleged widespread Hollywood hacking incident.
In March, the FBI said it was looking into dozens of celebrities who may have had nude photos stolen from their phones and email accounts, entertainment website TMZ reported.
The incident was reported to include as many as 50 well-known stars like Scarlett Johansson and Miley Cyrus. The fact that so many stars are allegedly involved is raising questions of just how common nude photos are becoming in modern society with the rise of smart phones and other devices that make it easier than ever to photograph and share images electronically.
A survey from earlier this year by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found 59 percent of young adults admit to sending explicit messages. More than a third of women admit to sending nude or semi-nude photographs via text or email.
With so many people reportedly sending nude pictures of themselves electronically, WACH Fox News asked a local expert whether the issue is still a big deal in today’s society; are times changing?
University of South Carolina Professor Dr. Robert Valois with Arnold School of Public Health, studies the risky of behavior of teens. He told WACH Fox during an interview earlier this year, "times have changed, kids do stuff different, some of it's the same, but some of it's changed and the technology that was supposed to make our lives better, also creates the unintended consequences that we have to deal with.”
Dr. Valois says the sexting era is part of the sexual evolution of young people, but it is an issue that is still a major concern.
So what do you think about the sexting era? Is the easy transfer of electronic images making nudity the norm or is it still a concern to you? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts on this story in the comment section below.
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