Picture this: you’re winding down for the night and watching your comfort show in bed. While you’re scrolling absentmindedly on your phone, a text notification pops up — and it’s a scandalous photo of your current love interest. How would you respond?
If you’d be down to reciprocate with a sexy pic or seductive compliment, you’re not alone. Sexting is a common practice that serves as a way for partners to connect when they’re unable to be in the same place (or even when they are. Up for a surprise sext session across the bar?)
For people in long-distance relationships or couples with busy schedules, sexting can be a great way to strengthen their sexual bond and chemistry. It can also be a fun method of exploring when you’re getting to know someone new. You may be surprised just how common it is to get digitally frisky.
To get a better idea of the culture around sexting and what you can do to practice it safely, read on for sexting statistics that everyone should know.
1. 88% of U.S. Adults Say They Have Sexted
Sexting is a nearly ubiquitous practice despite advancements in both technology and sex positivity. A study by Emily Stasko and Pamela A. Geller at Drexel University found that an incredible 88% of adults surveyed said they have sexted before,1 with 96% of those saying they “endorse” it.
If you’ve felt like your shared sex life has been stagnant lately, you can spark up a sexting conversation, encouraging your partner to be naked when you get home tonight, or even send a risqué photo of yourself to really get their engine going.
Wanting to sext someone shouldn’t be embarrassing or make you feel uncomfortable — it should be an empowering and fun way to sexually connect. As long as you have their clear and enthusiastic consent, go for it.
2. An Estimated 1 in 25 Americans Have Been Victimized by Revenge Porn
While you may make a conscious effort to remain safe online and respect the privacy of others, not everyone will always have your best interests in mind. Even a partner you would never question is capable of subjecting you to revenge porn.
In fact, the Data and Society Research Institute reports that as many as 1 in 25 Americans report having either their private and sensitive photos leaked online or received threats about it.2
Many reasons — including rejection or a tough breakup — may motivate someone to get revenge by leaking another person’s private photos or videos online.
No matter the reason, revenge porn is a massive breach of someone’s trust and is never OK.
Sharing sexual or suggestive photos as a consenting adult is a valid choice, but it’s a good idea to do so with caution. Rather than assume the recipient will keep your private images hidden or delete them upon request, safeguard yourself against the risk of revenge porn. You may want to hide your face in photos or not reveal personal details in your sexual messaging.
3. More Than 3 out of 4 Young People Said Nothing Bad Came of Sexting
A survey revealed that 78% of young people who had tried sexting before said they didn’t experience any negative consequences.3
Of course, sexting consequences may not be immediate. Although nothing bad may have happened in the short term for those young people, it doesn’t mean that future consequences aren’t on the horizon.
Minors having access to the internet is almost inevitable nowadays, but the level of supervision they have is up to their caregivers. When some young people are given the freedom to use social media platforms and unsupervised texting, it can result in age-inappropriate behaviors like sexting.
Even if a young person has become sexually aware or active, they still face risks when engaging in sexting. The person they’re sending sexts to may have bad intentions, or have even breached consent by sharing the minor’s images or messages with friends.
4. Surprisingly, 40% of Teenage Girls Say They Sext as a Joke
According to research by DoSomething.org, many teenage girls have a somewhat flippant view of sexting. The website reports that 40% of young girls who have sexted before said they did so as a joke.4 While it’s good to have a sense of humor, sexting may not be the best laughing matter for a teen.
There are several factors that play into the risks teen girls face when sending nude photos or explicit text messages. One consideration that should be made — but often isn’t — is that teenage boys are also likely to not understand the consequences of exchanging these kinds of messages.
5. The Same Survey Found 55% of Sexters Share the Photos
DoSomething also says that 17% of sext recipients share the photos or texts with others, and 55% of them share the material with multiple people.
Young people may not understand the consequences of sexting, including harming the senders themselves and their reputation — or even of being in violation of child pornography laws.
6. About 15% of Teens Say They’ve Sent a Nude Photo to Someone They Met Online
If you’re a parent or guardian of a young child, it’s likely you are well aware of the ways the internet can harm young people.
As kids grow older, they tend to become more involved in the digital world — which sometimes, unfortunately, opens them up to potential danger. Teens who choose to exchange explicit photos or videos are often taken advantage of, either by adults portraying themselves as a minor or by other young people.
In the previously mentioned survey, DoSomething.org found that 15% of teens who said they sent either nude or semi-nude photos of themselves did so to people they had never met in person.
7. About 1 in 9 Young People Experience Sexual Exploitation
In 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received over 500,000 reports per week of the possible sexual exploitation of children.4 The Center reported that 1 in 9 youths experience online sexual exploitation.
The growing issue of child predators online means it’s more important than ever for caregivers of young people to supervise their children’s online activities. This involves open and honest conversations about the risks of meeting strangers online and how to keep safe from harm.
8. U.S. Law Enforcement Saw Over 7,000 Reports of Sextortion
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, law enforcement agencies across the country received over 7,000 reports of sextortion cases involving minors in 2022.5 These cases affected over 3,000 victims, most of whom were young boys.
Sextortion happens when an adult online predator falsely poses as a young person to gain explicit photos or videos of a minor.
Either way, the extortion part occurs when the perpetrator threatens to post or share the sexual material if the child doesn’t comply with their demands. U.S. law enforcement reports that some of the cases that involve this cycle resulted in the victims committing suicide.
Shame and fear are what keep young people in these situations from reporting their attackers, and what perpetuates the cycle of abuse. Parents must have open and honest conversations with the children and young people in their lives about staying safe online.
9. 30% of Adults Say They Have Sexted at Work or in Public
If you’ve ever sent a spicy photo or message, chances are you did so in the comfort of your own home. If that’s the case, you’re in good company; the Drexel University study found that about two-thirds of U.S. adults chose to sext from home.
Surprisingly, almost 30% of participants said that they have done so at work or when they’re on the go.6
Sexting in itself can be exciting, and it’s not surprising that there’s an allure to the idea of texting in somewhat inappropriate settings. Still, caution is key if you want to initiate a steamy conversation via text.
You never know who may be taking a peek at your screen next to you on the train, or who may catch a glimpse of your phone while you grab a cup of coffee.
My tip: If you’re in the office, it’s best to avoid sexting until you’re off the clock, lest you mistakenly project your latest NSFW messages during a meeting instead of a PowerPoint.
10. Revenge Porn Is Illegal in All But 4 States
According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, only four states in the U.S.8 do not currently have laws enforced against revenge porn — Ohio, South Carolina, Idaho, and Massachusetts. While these states don’t prosecute it at the moment, it’s likely that they will in the future.
Consensually exchanging or receiving sexual photos or videos with another person can be an exciting way to connect over long distances or spice up your relationship.
But a breach of trust takes place when it comes to revealing those photos or videos outside your partnership. Not only that, but most states now have laws that harshly punish those who post revenge porn — even if they don’t realize that they’re engaging in it.
11. Around 75% of Adults Sext With Their Committed Partner
Sexting isn’t just for casual daters. According to the American Psychological Association, however, 75% of adults who have sexted reported that they did so within a committed relationship.8
Swapping nude photos or sexually charged messages will always involve some level of risk, so it makes sense that most people sext with someone they trust and know very well.
Experimenting and communicating sexually with someone you trust can bring excitement or a sense of newness to the relationship, without the fear that your photos or texts will be shared around.
Learn the Facts So You Know How to Sext Safely
Sexting can be fun, exciting, and intimate. It can enhance your sexual connection and keep your shared spark alive when you both trust each other to keep the images or messages safe and private. Sharing these private images can turn sour, however, when unethical people become involved.
Minors are very susceptible to online predators, and you could even be at risk yourself if you choose to sext with someone you don’t fully trust or believe has your best interest and safety in mind.
Both of these situations can often lead to things like revenge porn, child pornography distribution, or sextortion schemes — all of which have grave consequences.
Whether you’re swapping sexy videos with your long-distance love or simply having some fun with a dating app match, it’s important to stay aware of the risks, facts, and statistics about sexting.
Sources:
- https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-sexting-sexual-satisfaction-20150807-story.html ↩︎
- https://datasociety.net/pubs/oh/Nonconsensual_Image_Sharing_2016.pdf ↩︎
- https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/sexting/learn-about-sexting/ ↩︎
- https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-sexting ↩︎
- https://www.d2l.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Child-Sexual-Abuse-Updates.pdf ↩︎
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/fbi-and-partners-issue-national-public-safety-alert-sextortion-schemes ↩︎
- https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-sexting-sexual-satisfaction-20150807-story.html ↩︎
- https://cyberbullying.org/the-status-of-sexting-laws-across-the-united-states ↩︎
- https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/08/common-sexting ↩︎
