As a sexting nation, let’s push the right buttons
SEXTING is an act of sending explicit of pictures of oneself to someone one desires.
While the practice is often associated with teenagers, the reality is more and more of the 50-plus set, both single and married, routinely use text messaging to send tantalising pictures and provocative words to their partner, according to relationship experts.
A new survey has revealed that South Africans are the front-runners in the sexting scene, with 77% claiming they have done it.
And this makes South Africa, according to the survey which was conducted by Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute and the Berlin-based women’s health start-up, Clue, the top sexting nation in the world.
Local sexologist Marlene Wasserman, who practices under the name Dr Eve, says this is not an unusual phenomenon.
“We’ve always put a negative spin on it, but it isn’t. We have to adapt to the new normal. The way we now communicate has changed,” Wasserman says.
Wasserman reckons people need to be educated more on how to “sext” effectively.
“We need to educate people on how we do it in a more effective way. Why is it bad, why are we bad-mouthing sexting?
“I think it’s quite wonderful that we have a mechanism to be able to explore our sexuality and share it with someone else.
“We need to get over this idea that sexting is a bad thing. It’s open to abuse.
“If you speak to people who are sexting, you will find they get a huge amount of pleasure out of it. It enhances your intimacy because you are able to trust each other online,” says Wasserman.
She believes that when done in an intelligent way, sexting can be enjoyable. “You have to be comfortable with what you are sending.
“Do it in a smart way – don’t put your face on it, send your breasts or send your butt; send your genitals but don’t send sex images that are going to reveal who you are… it is extremely empowering for women, especially when they can look and admire themselves,” she says.
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