Sexting

Sexting is the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images, primarily between mobile phones, of oneself to others. It may also include the use of a computer or any digital device. The term was first popularized in the early 21st century, and is a portmanteau of sex and texting, where the latter is meant in the wide sense of sending a text possibly with images.

History[edit | edit source]

The first published use of the term sexting was in a 2005 article in the Australian Sunday Telegraph Magazine. The Pew Research Center commissioned a study on sexting, which divides the practice into three types: exchange of images solely between two romantic partners; exchanges between partners that are shared with others outside the relationship; and exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but where at least one person hopes to be.

Legal issues[edit | edit source]

Sexting has been promoted further by several direct messaging applications that are available on smartphones. Among the most popular applications for this use in 2015 were Kik, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. The difference between using these applications and traditional texting is that content is transmitted over the Internet or a data plan, allowing anyone with Internet access to participate. Kik and WhatsApp appeal to teens because of the anonymity of the applications. Snapchat appeals to teens because it allows users to send photos for a maximum of ten seconds before they self-destruct. Those sending photos over Snapchat believe they will disappear without consequences so they feel more secure about sending them.

Social issues[edit | edit source]

There have been several cases where teens have sent photos over these applications, expecting them to disappear or be seen by the recipient only, yet are saved and distributed, carrying social and legal implications. Even though users believe their photos on Snapchat for example will go away in seconds, it is easy to save them through other photo capturing technology, third party applications, or simple screenshots. These applications claim that they prevent underage users from entering their site by asking for mobile verification. It is apparent that technology has changed the way we communicate in several respects. The prevalence of sexting has increased in recent years and this is a major concern for many parents and educators.

References[edit | edit source]

Sexting Resources
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