Minors sharing inappropriate images online is being highlighted by Gardaí.
The sharing of information is an escalating problem and once things are deleted they can be accessed by technically minded people.
The message is you should never put a picture up that you wouldn't want somebody to see.
Sinéad Donoghue is the Garda Juvenile Liasion Officer in Waterford Garda Station - she says if the images are of a sexual nature it is an offence.
She says young people are investigated differently to adults - they are included in the Garda juvenile diversion programme.
Speaking to Beat News she said "if the pictures are of a sexually explicit nature and can be maybe classed as child pornography, possessing those pictures on a young persons phone or device is an offence under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.
If they share it with anybody they are actually guilty of distributing it as well.
Maybe young people aren't aware of that and maybe parents aren't aware of that.
If such a case happens, what I would say to parents and any adults that maybe aware of this would be to contact the Gardaí - contact our office for advice."
