One in seven teens are ‘sexting,’ new research claims
Teen sexting has been on the rise over the past decade as smartphones have become more available; meanwhile teen sex has declined.
Sexting is known as the sharing of sexually explicit images and videos through the internet or via electronic devices such as smartphones.
One in seven teens report that they are sending sexts, and one in four are receiving sexts, according to our study of more than 110,000 teens from around the world published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Teen-to-teen sexting has generated considerable media attention, with news headlines mostly warning of the dangers of sexting.
In January 2018, Police in Châteauguay, near Montreal, launched a campaign called “sexts are porn” targeted at students aged 12 to 17. In the UK, one police force recently warned parents they may be prosecuted if their children send indecent images over mobile phones.
Naturally, this has many parents worried. Is consensual teen sexting a cause for concern?
Girls and boys participate equally
Sexting over the past decade has been on the rise, which is consistent with the rapid growth in the availability and ownership of smartphones. Teen sex, on the other hand, has been on the decline over the past decade.
A meta-analysis of the research literature was conducted, drawing from 39 research studies on teen sexting internationally between 2009 and 2016.
The research found that approximately 15 per cent of teens are sending sexts. Meanwhile, around 41 per cent of teens are having sexual intercourse, according to a 2018 report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
Considerable evidence suggests that teen sexting is related to sexual behaviour. Older teens are also sexting more often than younger teens. Taken together, it is not surprising that older teens are both more likely to sext and have sexual intercourse.
Boys are often portrayed as the requesters, and girls as the senders, of nude images or videos. Findings from our study debunk this widely-held assumption and show that boys and girls are equally likely to participate in sexting.
The study found that the large majority of teens are using their personal smartphones versus their computers to sext. In 2015, approximately 92 per cent of teenagers aged 15 to 17 in the US owned a cell phone.
Risk-taking or ‘normal’ behaviour?
With the ubiquity of smartphones and increasing digital usage across all age categories, parents should not be surprised that teens are engaging in sexting with other teens.
Researchers suggest that consensual teen sexting may be a normal component of sexual behaviour and development in the digital age. The increased prevalence of this sexual behaviour, in older youth in particular, corresponds to their increasing interest in sexual exploration and identity development.
Sexting has been linked to impulsive and risk-taking behaviours but, so far, the evidence for an association between sexting and poor mental health such as depression or loneliness is weak to non-existent. The most consistent predictor of consensual teen sexting is actually whether or not they want to flirt, be romantically involved with another teen or maintain intimacy with their partner.
Sharing without consent
Although girls and boys sext a similar amount, there are important differences in the perception of this behaviour among youth.
Compared to boys, girls report feeling more pressure to sext, and also worry they will be judged harshly for sexting (e.g., slut shaming) or for not sexting (e.g., being called a “prude”).
Boys, on the other hand, may see sexting as an opportunity to showcase their social status.
This double standard may create higher levels of distress for girls.
The moment the youth presses “send,” they are trusting that the receiver will not share the images or videos without their consent. Sexting can become a problem when this trust is violated.
In many countries, it is illegal for a person to distribute an intimate photo without the explicit consent of the individual in the photo. Nonetheless, our research suggests that 12.5 per cent of teens are forwarding intimate photos without the consent of the sender.
Coercion and ‘sextortion’
Taken together, several challenges can potentially arise. First, many teens may feel as though sexting is an expectation. Although likely not a warranted expectation, the idea that “my friends are doing it, then maybe I should do it” could be a strong peer motivator.
A second problem that may arise is when teens are coerced into sexting or when they are “sextorted” (when images or videos are used as a form of threat or blackmail).
Another problem is the idea of digital security. Teenage brains are still developing; their capacity to critically analyse the digital tools and apps they are using may not be enough to keep them safe. Where are these images stored? Who, other than the intended recipient, has access to them? How long are they kept digitally? And, if I change my mind can I get them back?
These and many other questions are simply not at the forefront of the teenage mind — nor, arguably, are they always in an adult’s mind either, 53 per cent of whom engage in sexting themselves – especially when these thoughts are competing with sexual interest and intimacy.