Never let yourself be fooled into thinking you have any sort of control over your kids after they reach *that* age.
My mom did. I respected her and cared about what she thought and still do. There was *one* time that I almost got caught with pot in HS. What terrified me the most is not what the law would have done to me--I didn't even think about that--but how my mom would have reacted. We definitely clashed--but at the end of the day, no matter how much of a bitch I thought she was being, I still had respect for her.
I also disagree that the way someone parents has nothing to do with how their kids turn out. I have 8 younger cousins from three sets of parents all in somewhat similar economic situations (upper middle class to lower upper class), and I grew up watching them parent. Their kids are now anywhere from 15 to 21 and I can tell you that those kids are a *direct* result of the parenting they received, and range from kids that are frugal and do volunteer work rather than get jobs to kids that are spoiled rotten to kids with generally troubled lives and relationships. It is not going to be like that in all cases, but it *does* make a difference.
As to the OT--I do think that it is going to far to give them a sex offender designation--not only is it a bit harsh IMHO, it just waters down the meaning of "Sex Offender."
I think that a lot of idiot teenagers need to get it through their heads that the ENTIRE WORLD can see what you post ANYWHERE on the web. That means your dad, your potential boss, your teachers, your fiance's parents, your grandparents, your priest, anyone. Yes, I know that all teenagers are brainless at one point but it takes a special kind of stupid to record yourself committing a crime (or take naked pics of yourself) and then post it on the web......