"This was badly handled by stupid adults bent on humiliating this kid."

You missed the point of the article.  The point is that, in this brand new age of phone cameras, social media, and other technology, NO ONE really knows what the right way to handle these tricky situations is.

Based on the article--if you have high school-level reading skills--none of the adults at the school were trying to browbeat the kid, none were trying to intimidate him.  Even the cop, who may have been the toughest on the kid, told him he could avoid having to go to court.

We do need to review any old laws about sexual activity among teenagers, and about the use of technology.  Both are changing quickly and constantly.  People's abilities to read and think should also evolve in pace with the technology.