There has been a reported surge in cases of teenagers “sexting” in the US, leaving countless teens vulnerable to harassment, exploitation, and extortion, a new study says. Nearly 1 in 3 teens – around 32 per cent- have received a sext, and almost 1 in 4 has sent one, researchers reported in theJournal of Adolescent Health.
The numbers are up from 2019, making experts worry about the increasing influence of social media and the internet. “Our findings make it clear that sexting is not rare among adolescents – it’s a common part of many young people’s digital lives,” said Sameer Hinduja, senior researcher and a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, Florida.
“What is deeply concerning, however, is how often these experiences are tied to coercion, nonconsensual sharing and sextortion,” Hinduja said in a news release. Experts warn that while some teens view sexting as a form of self-expression or intimacy, the risks associated with it, which include emotional and mental health harm, cyberbullying, and legal consequences, are pretty dangerous.
According to experts, sexting is defined as the sharing of sexually explicit messages, images, or videos through digital devices, and is becoming increasingly common among adolescents growing up in a hyper-connected digital world. Many teenagers are especially into it, where they are coerced into sending nude pictures or videos that are later used for harm.
Sexting carry serious consequences, which take a toll on mental health causing anxiety and depression
For the new study, researchers surveyed nearly 3,500 13- to 17-year-olds about sexting and potential negative consequences. Among teenagers who sent a sext, nearly half, around 47 per cent, said their image was shared with others without their permission.
Younger teens were at greater risk, with more than 60 per cent of 13-year-olds saying their image had been shared without consent compared to 41 per cent of 17-year-olds. Sextortion also emerged as a strikingly common experience, researchers said. These risks hinged greatly on the recipient of the sext, researchers found.
Compared to teens who only sexted with a boyfriend or girlfriend, teens who sent sexts to someone outside a current relationship had:
“Our study underscores the urgent need to move beyond simple 'don’t sext’ messages and instead provide youth with meaningful education around consent, boundaries, and digital safety, while equipping parents, educators, and policymakers with the tools to better prevent harm and respond when it occurs,” Hinduja said.
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