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Only 1% of children send messages, photos and videos of an intimate nature
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
A new study of scientists refutes the fact of the widespread prevalence of sharing intimate photos between teenagers on the Internet or through mobile phones.
According to a nationally representative study, only 1% of children between the ages of 10 and 17 have their own intimate photos or photographs of others.
The study was published in the journal Pediatrics.
Previous studies have shown a significant increase in the exchange of intimate information among adolescents. A new study suggests that the exchange of textual information or photos of a sexual nature among children and adolescents is rare.
"Adolescent sexting" is insignificant and, as a rule, is not malicious, and is not an excuse for parents to panic, "said study lead author Kimberly Mitchell, a psychologist at the University of New Hampshire.
Previous reports found that 1 in 5 young people, or 20%, participated in "sexting". But in this case, the study included older adolescents and people aged 20 years. And some young people defined "sexting" as text messages of a sexual nature without photos or images in underwear.
A survey conducted by the Associated Press-MTV on the Internet showed that 7% of teenagers aged 14 to 17 sent their pictures of an intimate nature to others.
The latest study analyzes the exchange of intimate photos exclusively between children.
Scientists also conducted a separate study of law enforcement and teenage "sexting". Contrary to some reports, the study suggests that a small number of children are criminally prosecuted or are sex offenders in the "sexting" field. The study estimated that in 2008 and 2009 around the country, about 4,000 teenage "sexting" cases were reported across the country.
The authors added that the majority of children who took part in the exchange of explicit sexual photos did this:
- How prank
- At a time when they were in a close relationship
- Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (31%)
Slightly more than one third of these cases led to arrests. About one third of all cases concerned adolescents; more often arrested adults.
The study shows that "sexting" can range from minor incidents to malicious cases with serious consequences.
For example, one case was associated with a 10-year-old boy who sent photos of his genitals to his 11-year-old girl on his mobile phone. The girl's mother called the police. Subsequently, the boy was questioned by the police, who concluded that the child does not understand the scale of his actions and left the issue for parents' consideration.
Another case concerns a 16-year-old girl who accidentally placed her nude photo on a social network. A 16-year-old boy from her school found this photo and distributed it to 100 people when she refused to send him even more pictures of an intimate nature at his request. As a result, he accused the guy of a criminal offense, and he was put on probation.
"The results suggest that the police do not react too strictly to teenage" sexting, "said lead author of the second study, Janice Wolak. "Some cases that are not criminal, but disturb and disturb and require the intervention of parents."
In the first study, with the permission of the parents, the scientists questioned 1,560 children in August 2010-January 2011. The second study is based on questionnaires of nearly 3,000 police stations and subsequent phone interviews with investigators on cases involving "sexting", examined in 2008-2009.
"Learning your sexuality is normal behavior for teenagers and taking pictures of yourself and others is one way of knowing yourself," Wolack said.
Dr. Victor Strasburger, a medical expert at the University of New Mexico, said that parents and law enforcement agencies "must understand that adolescents are neurologically programmed to do stupid things." Their brains are not mature enough to fully understand the consequences of their actions, including "sexting".
The specialist denies the need to prosecute such actions, and calls for greater participation of parents who must develop morality and responsibility in their children.
* Sexting - sending messages, photos and explicit videos