(Livescience.com) Almost 80 percent of college students have received suggestive text messages, and more than half of all college students have received sexually suggestive images via text messaging, a new study shows.
Head down, fingers moving in rapid fire, text messaging seems like a way of life for today’s teens and college students; and they’re sending more than innocent notes, according to a new study finding sexts – sexually suggestive texts and images sent over cellphones – may be common fare.
In the new study of 204 college students, 78 percent said they have received sexually suggestive text messages, and 56 percent said they have received suggestive images. Two-thirds of the group admitted to sexting, with 73 percent of those messages sent to a relationship partner.
Ten percent of the sexual texts, however, were forwarded to friends without the consent of the person who originally sent the message, according to the researchers, from the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies. They are preparing a research paper on the finding to submit for publication in a scientific journal.
The results for teens can be more than getting grounded by their parents. Under a new Rhode Island law enacted July 12, anyone younger than 18 who creates and sends sexually explicit images of themselves will be charged with a “status offense,” an act considered punishable only when committed by an underage person, such as drinking. Adults and minors who possess or forward sexual images of anyone younger than 18 may be charged under the state’s child pornography laws.
Currently, at least 14 U.S. states have enacted bills to address youth sexting to varying degrees, and the passing of Rhode Island’s strict underage sexting bill may lead to similar legislation across the country. But researchers warn that under the new law, older teens may be faced with legal action if they send sexually explicit content to a friend or love interest who they thought was 18 or older.
It is important to help everyone, especially students, understand the importance of setting boundaries around their use of technology.
Making sure that teens are aware of the sexting laws in their state — and of the consequences that their sexting activities can have on themselves and others — may cause them to think twice before sending a sexually explicit message, the researchers say.
