Michigan Sexting Laws for Teens and Minors

Sexting images of a minor—someone younger than 18—can result in serious charges and penalties. These offenses can be prosecuted under Michigan's child pornography laws. Read on to learn more about teen sexting laws in Michigan.

What Is Sexting?

Sexting refers to the taking, sending, or receiving of nude or sexual photos or videos by electronic means, whether through a text message, social media, or email. Especially common among teenagers, sexting can easily be used to bully or harass others.

Is Sexting a Crime in Michigan?

Sexting between consenting adults is legal, as long as the images aren't of minors. However, sexting images of or to minors falls under Michigan's child pornography laws, which can result in felony penalties. These laws were originally enacted to protect kids from sexual predators (not necessarily from other kids). While some states have addressed the issue of teen sexting by providing reduced penalties for sexting by or between minors, Michigan is not one of these states.

Michigan's Laws on Teen Sexting

The absence of teen sexting laws creates serious consequences for teenagers, especially those age 18 or 19 who engage in sexting with a minor. These older teens must go through adult court and face adult criminal penalties—including prison and sex offender registration. Defendants younger than 18 are typically handled through the juvenile courts, which have more flexibility and sentencing options.

What Are the Penalties for Teen Sexting in Michigan?

Michigan punishes teen sexting under its laws prohibiting child pornography (called child sexually abusive material) and dissemination of sexually explicit material to minors. These laws prohibit creating, sharing, and possessing images of minors (younger than 18) engaged in sexual acts, as well as sending images of sexual acts to a minor.

"Sexual acts" include sexual intercourse, masturbation, sexual excitement, lewd exhibition of the genitals, and sexual touching of a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, public area, buttocks, or female breasts or developing breast area.

Sexting Images of Minors: Child Sexually Abusive Material

Sexting images of a minor—for both senders and receivers—can result in harsh criminal charges. A person (adult or minor) who creates, shares, or possesses an image of a minor engaging in a sexual act commits a felony in Michigan. These images include selfies. Enhanced penalties apply if the defendant has prior convictions for any of these offenses or a sexual offense against a minor.

Receiving a sext. Receiving a sext from a minor means the person is in possession of child sexually abusive material. A person convicted of possession charges faces up to four years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Requesting a sext. Asking a minor to send a photo or video showing sexual acts could lead to charges for inducing or enticing a child to engage in or produce child sexually abusive material. This offense carries up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Sending a sext (image of a minor). A minor who sexts a selfie to another person commits the crime of disseminating child pornography. Someone who shares a nude or sexually explicit image of a minor could also face charges for this offense. A conviction can mean a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Examples of sexting crimes. Under these provisions, a 17-year-old boy who receives a nude picture of his 15-year-old girlfriend can be prosecuted for possession of child sexually abusive material. If he sends the image to his friends, he commits the crime of disseminating child sexually abusive material, and his friends could be prosecuted for possession. The 15-year-old girl who sent the selfie could be charged with creating and sharing child sexually abusive material.

(Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 750.145c, 750.145d, 750.145g (2025).)

Sexting Images to a Minor: Disseminating Sexually Explicit Matter to Minors

Michigan also makes it a felony to share sexually explicit matter (similar definition to sexual acts) with a minor younger than 18. Here, an adult who sexts a nude selfie to a minor would be guilty of a felony, punishable by a two-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. A minor sexting images to another minor could also be charged under this section.

(Mich. Comp. Laws § 722.675 (2025).)

Will a Teen Go to Juvenile or Adult Court in Michigan?

Michigan juvenile courts typically hear cases involving offenses committed by minors younger than 18. The juvenile court has more discretion and flexibility when it comes to sentencing (called a disposition) than an adult court. A juvenile court judge could order the minor to attend counseling, complete educational programming, or report to a probation officer. In some cases, the court can order juvenile detention.

Teens who commit offenses when they are 18 or 19 are adults and go to adult court. These offenders face possible prison time and fines.

(Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 712A.1 to 712A.4 (2025).)

Is Sex Offender Registration Required in Michigan for Sexting Convictions?

People who are convicted of child pornography (creating, sharing, or possessing child sexually abusive material) must register as sex offenders in Michigan. Registration applies to adults and minors transferred to adult court. (While Michigan does require certain juvenile offenders to register, these registration requirements do not apply to offenses listed in this article.)

(Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 28.722, 28.723 (2025).)

Getting Legal Assistance

If you or your child is charged with a crime as a result of sexting, talk to a Michigan criminal defense attorney or ask for a public defender as soon as possible. A conviction or adjudication for any crime, but particularly for a sex crime, can have serious consequences, including years in prison or a juvenile facility, sex offender registration, and a criminal record. An attorney can tell you what to expect in court and how to protect your rights.