FOUR teens have been arrested after a "disturbing explicit photograph" of a fellow student was passed around a secondary school in Melbourne's west.
Police said two current students and two former students had obtained the image of a female pupil and allege it was distributed to other children inside and outside the unnamed school.
The victim believed the photo had been deleted but contacted police when she saw it again in mid-May.
"Three 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old girl were arrested and interviewed in relation to the offence of knowingly communicating a private activity on 25 May," Wyndham Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Steve Oakley said.
They have all been released pending further inquiries.
However, as a result of the investigation, police discovered two further incidents of explicit photograph sharing - both involving 14-year-old girls.
Detectives are still investigating these cases and say further arrests are expected to follow.
Police have warned 'sexting" - sending an explicit photograph via a mobile phone text message- has "the potential to be enormously damaging to the lives of young people."
"Parents need to be vigilant and should speak to their children about the dangers of technology and online activity,'' Sen-Cons Oakley said.
"It is important to talk to your child about the appropriate use of technology including digital cameras, iPhones and iPads. It's really about creating an environment where you and your child feel safe and secure using electronic devices connected to the internet."
He added once an image is sent, it's "in a space outside their control."
"What they don't seem to realise is that whether it be online or on their phone, once that image or text is sent, the sender no longer has control of it and it may be forwarded on or end up on the Internet.
"Once information is posted online, it is very difficult to have it removed permanently," he said.
jon.kaila@news.com.au
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