A study following 743 Norwegian teens at ages 14, 16, and 18 documents the frequency and nature of their sexting experiences as they mature. Girls were slightly more likely than boys to send sexts: less than 8.8% by age 14, 34.7% by 16, and 40% by age 18. However, girls were much more likely to receive sexts (44.6% by age 14, 74.7% by age 16), often from unidentified parties (49.1% by age 16). Sexting behavior is frequent among boyfriends and girlfriends, but sexts sent to other friends and completely anonymous sexts are almost as common. Far more people report receiving (35.7% at age 16) than admit to sending (3.1% at age 16) such anonymous sexts, suggesting that it is a small number of young people who distribute them promiscuously. While sending anonymous sexts may afford shy adolescents what they regard as a safe and shame-free outlet for sexual exploration and self-expression, receiving them may be felt as intrusive by some. The study did not explore the frequency with which adolescents experienced non-consensual distribution of their images to others for whom they were not intended. Sexting remains dangerous behavior in the US, where minors are sometimes prosecuted for distributing child pornography if they send any naked image of themselves to anyone. Read the open access article here:
Where Adolescent Sexting is Healthy and Common
