Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October Learn More or Try it out now. What are these teens texting about? Sexting is the term used to describe sending and receiving sexually explicit messages, or nude or seminude photographs or videos electronically primarily between cell phones, but can occur between any media-sharing device or technology β ie, e-mail or the Internet.
Sexting has been a recognized occurrence for several years and is a global practice among teens and young adults. Despite its prevalence, we know very little about this phenomenon. This is partly because technology is changing rapidly, making it difficult to study. They surveyed young people β teens ages 13 to 19 years and young adults ages 20 to 26 years β about sexting during the fall of This study reported data on teens and young adults separately. According to the survey, one in five teens had sent or posted nude or seminude pictures or videos of themselves.
Why might teens be involved in sexting? Adolescence is an important time for the development of identity and independence.
Some experimentation and self-discovery occur through texting or sexting. Texting is a skill that allows teens to be sociable and interact with others, while providing distance from personal contact.
Texting provides an electronic medium that allows teens to conceal who they are while expressing themselves and fostering personal relationships that might not otherwise occur face-to-face. For instance, shy, lonely and anxious people tend to find texting to be a less stressful and more comfortable way to express themselves, and an easier way to develop friendships than by a direct encounter 3. Peer pressure and peer expectations may play a role in why teens are sexting.
