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.