Union County girl asked for inappropriate photos through app

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A Union County mother is stunned after she found out someone was asking her teenage daughter for inappropriate pictures through the popular smartphone app “WhatsApp.”

Channel 9 is not identifying the mother to protect her daughter.

The mother said her 14-year old daughter posted on a message board that encourages anorexia to lose weight and was then contacted by someone offering to motivate her.

The discussion moved to “WhatsApp,” a free messaging app, and the person asked for a current picture.

The teen sent photos, first clothed, then one without a shirt that was blurred. The person on the other end persisted by saying they needed to see more skin.

"As they got more inappropriate, all of a sudden the threats started coming out, 'Oh, if you don't send me a better picture, I'm going to post everything I have online,'" the mother said.

The teen told her mom everything.

"What do you say when you see text messages encouraging your child to produce nude photos?," the mother said.

She filed a report with the Union County Sheriff's Office, which is now investigating. Authorities believe the suspect was preying on the teen’s insecurities.

"These are very difficult cases because it could be coming from anywhere in the world,” Sheriff Eddie Cathey said,

Cathey believes cases like this will happen more often now, because the Supreme Court recently overturned a state law allowing sex offenders to use social media.

The court said North Carolina’s ban on convicted sex offenders from using the online sites violated their First Amendment.

Cathey said this case is a reminder to parents to be nosy with your kid's phone and internet use.

"Know who their friends are, what apps they're using, what they're using them for and look at [the apps]," Cathey said.

The mother said she has always talked to her kids about being safe with the internet and various apps. She is thankful her daughter came to her before the situation turned too dangerous.

Cathey told Channel 9 that if investigators are able to track down the suspect, they could face charges, including soliciting child pornography.

Cox Media Group