Sexting Among Teens: A Closer Look

A study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that sexting among teenagers is not as prevalent as previously thought. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center found that only 2.5% of 1,560 children between the ages of 10 and 17 reported sending nude pictures of themselves, which would qualify as child pornography. Additionally, only 1% of these exchanges included images that could violate pornography laws by showing explicit content.

Key Takeaways:

• The percentage of youth who send nude pictures of themselves, qualifying as child pornography, is extremely low, at 2.5%.
• Only 1% of sexting exchanges included images that could violate pornography laws by showing explicit content.
• A small minority of youth, approximately 2.5%, engage in sexting, creating a furor when these cases are discovered by schools and parents.
• Law enforcement officials are handling sexting cases in a thoughtful way, not treating teens like sex offenders and child pornographers.
• The studies suggest that parents and schools can avoid overreacting to sexting cases, instead focusing on educating teens about the importance of digital citizenship and responsible online behavior.

Statistics:

• 2.5% of youths (aged 10-17) reported sending nude pictures of themselves, which would qualify as child pornography.
• 1% of sexting exchanges included images that could violate pornography laws by showing explicit content.
• 1,560 children were surveyed for the first study.
• 2.5% is the percentage of youth who engage in sexting.

Sources:

• University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center
• Pediatrics journal
• Star staff