Study Finds Sexting Common Among Teens, Indicator of Sexual Behavior

Reuters reports that a new study by University of Texas Medical Branch found that 30 percent of US teenagers are sexting (defined in the study as “electronically sending sexually explicit images or messages”).

The study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, finds not only that nearly one-third of teens are sexting, but also that over half of teens have been asked to send a nude photo.

"Almost all of the girls that were asked to send a sext were bothered at least a little bit and over half were bothered a lot or a great deal, and yet some of them are still sending it," said Dr. Jeff Temple, lead author of the study.

In addition, sexting can become cyberbullying when students forward explicit photos to other students or even the entire school. And in fact, forwarding such images can actually be sexual harassment, and under Title IX schools are required to address harassment that is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with a student’s education or participation in school activities.

The study also looked at the connection between sexting and sexual behavior, finding that girls who sexted “were more likely to have a higher prevalence of risky behavior such as having multiple partners and using drugs and alcohol before sex.” Boys did not have the same indication.

Dr. Temple does not hope the study will lead to harsher penalties, but that the connection between sexting and sex can be used to further education.

"The main takeaway message is that it (sexting) may be an indicator of actual sexual behavior. If a conversation about sexting can act as a springboard for about talking about sex and safe sex, then it is a good point of the study," Reuters quoted Dr. Temple.

Connecting sexting to larger conversations about bullying and harassment would also be valuable to students, and could help them understand and access their rights under Title IX when sexting becomes harassment.