We recently came across this article from an amazing website that you should all check out, it’s called dosomething.org
This is particularly relevant to the work we have been doing to inform parents and teens about the dangers of Sexting.
11 Facts About Sexting
- In the 2010 case United States v. Broxmeyer, the courts defined sexting as “an act of sending sexually explicit materials through mobile phones.” This includes both messages and images.
- 1 in 10 teenagers aged 14 to 24 has sent or received a nude image.
- Of those that receive nude messages, 17% will pass it on to another person. Of those 17%, 55% will share it with more than one person.
- 14% of sexters suspected that the receiver shared the image without their knowledge or permission.
- The difference between girls sending pictures and guys doing the same is only 4%. Often people believe that only girls are giving out pictures of themselves, slowly the numbers are becoming more balanced.
- Because these texts are the distribution of nude photos of minors, they can be considered child pornography, an offense with a minimum sentence of 5 years in jail. More recently, states have been trying to consider sexting between teenagers as a misdemeanor.
- 61% of those who had sent a picture admitted that they have felt pressure to do so at least once.
- 44% of teens say it is common, if not ordinary, for the reciever of a sext to share it with others.
- While a large portion of nude images are sent to a romantic partner, 29% of those who have sent sexually explicit messages or images said they’ve done so with people they’ve only met and interacted with online.
- When asked why they had sexted, the most common responses were because they thought others wanted to see them, a desire to show off, boredom, or as a joke.
- Some states are instating a “rehab” program for sexters, to teach them the consequences of sending images and the permanance of the internet without charging them as sex offenders.
