By Katie Ralbusky, Online Editor

Weʼve heard the news recently. From Rihanna to Miley Cyrus, celebrity cell phones have been hacked and celebrity nude selfies have been leaked all over the web.

Some stars deny it, while others are simply ashamed of what has happened to them. Selfies have become popular as of late and nude photos are not exactly a new thing.

People often take them for a variety of reasons, mainly to give them to a specific partner. However, one way or the other they end up on the internet. It is easy to point fingers and say that they shouldnʼt have taken them in the first place, that just because the pics are on your phone doesnʼt mean theyʼre safe from prying eyes. But we must also consider that those celebrities are still the victims here. They have a right to their privacy. Itʼs far too easy to merely blame all of this on them and not on who violated the laws to begin with.

I inquired to various students around campus about this issue, but no one would comment and allow me to use their names. Here is what the student body had to say: “Iʼd never do something like that. I donʼt know what they were thinking.” And, “Sometimes I wonder if they do it on purpose to get more hype.” Also, “If they were stupid enough to take the pictures then they shouldnʼt be surprised when something like this happens.”

Itʼs far too simple to fall into this mindset, especially considering when stars like Rihanna say things like, “They were for my boyfriend at the time. If you donʼt send your boyfriend naked pictures, then I feel bad for him,” taken from the article 10 Scandalous Leaked Celebrity Selfies.

Iʼm not saying taking nude pictures of yourself is a good idea. Personally, I would never do such a thing. But I feel pity for those whose photos were leaked. What do their friends and family think? How does this affect them emotionally and possible future employment? Their lives may not be ruined, but they will never be the same again. All I ask is that you think of the consequences before the snap.