South Australia's government has proposed new laws to prevent minors who send nude photos to each other from being registered as sex offenders. 

Acting premier John Rau says the laws would give courts flexibility to deal with young people who engage in sexting without understanding the consequences. 

"It's still an offence, it should be an offence and they shouldn't do it," he told FiveAA radio on Wednesday. 

"But we don't want them winding up on the sex offenders register for the rest of their lives for doing something stupid." 

The government has also proposed a two-year jail term for adults or minors who threaten to share nude images without consent. 

A discussion paper will be released in the new year before the proposed laws go before parliament.