Many teenagers exchange erotic information, including photographs, using their mobile phones. But they don't even consider the consequences of such actions.
Modern technology plays a major role in the lives of today's youth. Access to social media has changed the way teenagers perceive the world. Furthermore, a new method of exploring intimate aspects of communication has emerged: sexting. In many countries, distributing intimate photographs of individuals under 18 is considered child pornography and punishable by law. Furthermore, experts believe that sexting has far-reaching psychological consequences.
US researchers decided to determine how often minors engage in sexting and how informed they are about the potential consequences. 606 schoolchildren participated in the survey.
Around 20% of teenagers reported sending explicit photos of themselves to others, and over 40% admitted to receiving similar photos on their mobile phones. Of those who received intimate photos, 25% passed them on to their friends. Many consider this completely normal and are not even aware of the potential penalties for such actions.