MTV’s “Skins” Could Violate Child Porn Laws

Thursday, 20 January 2011 | by Pat's Picks

MTV has been promoting their racy new teen drama “Skins” like it’s going out of style. But now, says the New York Times, the network is worried that some of the episodes could get them in trouble, specifically because they could violate child pornography laws. Most worrisome is the series’ third episode, which shows a 17-year-old actor running down the street in the buff after consuming one too many “erectile dysfunction pills.” According to the Times, “child pornography is defined by the United States as any visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.”

The show is a remake of a popular British series, the US version being almost identical to the original. MTV officials say their target audience is young adults though Nielsen ratings showed 1.2 million people younger than 18 tuned in for the premiere.