Sexting charges

Two teenagers in my county got charged for SEXTING! They both got charged for sending "nude selfies" to each other.. They were a couple.  The girl was 17 and the boy was 17, and a quarterback for a football team!! He is currently suspended from playing football games. Apparently, in North Carolina it's illegal for anybody under the age of 18 to send or receive nude pictures on the cell phone. This happened last year during the school year.. The boy has a court appearance on sexual exploitation charges, if he's convicted he will be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life. I think this is absolutely RIDICULOUS! Both of their lives will be ruined forever just over something little!!