Teens are all about the sexting

“Sexting is a new behavior that is evolving rapidly, as technology changes and awareness increases,” Elizabeth Englander, PhD, and Meghan McCoy, EdD, wrote.

The current study adds to the limited knowledge about sexting in children and teens and also identifies areas in need of additional study, including the lack of a consistent definition of sexting and differences in sexting activity between males and females. Another challenge is determining the context of sexting, with the recognition that sexting within relationships is different than sexting between unattached individuals, they said. In addition, the study by Madigan et al. emphasized the concern for sexting behaviors among children younger than 12 years of age because children this age are increasingly likely to own cell phones.

Dr. Englander and Dr. McCoy concluded that the current study represents “an important step forward in understanding prevalence, including the prevalence of unauthorized distribution of sexts.”

Dr. Englander and Dr. McCoy are affiliated with the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater (Mass.) State University. They commented in an editorial accompanying the meta-analysis by Madigan et al. (JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Feb 26. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.5682). They had no relevant financial disclosures.