A study conducted by the International University of Catalonia, published in the international journal “Environmental Research and Public Health,” stated that the practice of sexting increased during the pandemic by 2% among girls and 10% among boys.
What is sexting? According to the authors of the same study, it is the “act of sending, receiving or forwarding audiovisual content of a sexual nature through electronic devices or social networks.” It is not a security problem; the danger lies in how this content is used.
The increase in this practice is mainly due to using technological devices from a young age. The new generations spend a significant percentage of their day using social media platforms, and therefore, they develop their lives behind these devices and feel safe.
However, the reality is that this practice entails severe risks if the content is shared or misused. Disseminating photos or videos means a loss of privacy, damaging the reputation of the person involved, and thus generating consequences such as a lack of confidence or mental health.
In addition, spreading this content can lead to cyberbullying of the affected person, and extortion if the content reaches the wrong person and they seek to profit from it. It also can lead to grooming or physical risk, endangering the physical integrity of those involved.
How does the law punish the perpetrators?
Sharing sexual content without the consent of the victim can imply various consequences, depending on the country’s laws, and could be considered as:
- Exhibitionism and sexual provocation of minors.
- Generation, dissemination, or possession of child pornography.
- Damage to intimacy and honor
Role of responsible adults
Today we are all exposed to a wide variety of content on the internet. Therefore, parents and guardians should educate their children about these issues, even if they feel uncomfortable discussing the topic. Knowing what the child is doing on the Internet, raising awareness, and using tools such as parental control can help prevent the issue of sexting.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that adolescence is a process of discovery, and completely eliminating these practices is not feasible, especially considering the priority technology takes in people’s lives. Still, it is essential to have a bond of trust with the person the content is initially shared with. In addition, social networks are vulnerable to hacking or similar situations, as our phones are at risk of being stolen or getting lost, which must also be taken into consideration.
