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Filed Under:19th Ward, Bernie Tafoya, Beverly, Community Meeting, Matt O'Shea, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood, Nude Picture, Selfie, sexting, Snapchat

CHICAGO (CBS) — A nude selfie of a girl from the Beverly neighborhood has prompted concern from parents and authorities over children sharing inappropriate pictures of themselves.

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) said a teen girl took a nude picture of herself, and shared it with her boyfriend on Snapchat. He promptly shared it with friends, and since then it has continued to be shared with other students.

“Parents need to wake up, and know what their kids are doing on their cell phones, and their laptops, and their iPads, etc.,” O’Shea said.

Chicago police were investigating possible violations of sexting laws.

O’Shea said such incidents are happening more and more in the Beverly, Morgan Park, and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods, and neighboring suburbs.

“It’s a poor decision by a good kid that we’re seeing more and more of, and we just think it’s time that we hold a community event for parents,” he said.

A “parents only” meeting has been scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. John Fisher Grade School, 10200 S. Washtenaw Av. Parents from all schools in the 19th Ward are welcome to attend to speak to O’Shea and Chicago police about children and social media, and the need for parents to have a handle on what their kids are doing online.

The alderman said many parents don’t have a clue their kids could get in legal trouble for sharing nude pictures of themselves.

“Every parent thinks it’s a good idea to buy their 10-year-old an iPhone, and not only do the kids not know what they’re getting into, the parents don’t know what they’re getting into. It’s educating parents on paying attention to what their kids are up to,” he said.