Sexting: Causes, Impacts, and Control Strategies in Adolescence

This report investigates the phenomenon of sexting in adolescence and adulthood, exploring its various dimensions. The research begins with an introduction defining sexting and outlining the research aim and objectives, which include analyzing the factors that promote sexting, exploring its meaning, identifying components that cause it, evaluating its negative impacts, and studying control strategies. A comprehensive literature review synthesizes existing research on the meaning of sexting, the components that cause it among adolescents, the negative impacts of sexting, and strategies for control. The methodology section details the research philosophies (positivism), techniques (qualitative), design (descriptive), data collection methods (primary and secondary), sampling (random sampling of 15 UK university students), and ethical considerations. The scope and problem section addresses limitations related to time, funding, and the breadth of the subject matter. The report concludes with a list of references from books, journals, and online resources, providing a thorough overview of the topic.

Sexting in adolescence and
adulthood

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research Aim...................................................................................................................................1
Research Objective..........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
Significance of the research.............................................................................................................3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................3
SCOPE AND PROBLEM...............................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
In the present era, use of mobile phone and internet is increasing in large manner. Due to
this, various kinds of negative things arise among the people. In this manner, Sexting is one of
the activity under which people sending, receiving and forwarding sexually explicit messages,
images, video, photographs etc between mobile phone, social media etc (What is sexting?. 2017).
This is occurs while individual emotions and feeling permit them for involving this kind of act.
This act mostly arise in the period of adolescence while a children comes into the adult or it can
be said that it is a period of development. The present research proposal, investigator have main
aim is to investigate the components by which sexting causes in the adolescence and adulthood.
In order to address this aim, scholar will use several methods in the research methodology.
Research Aim
To analyse the components that promote Sexting in adolescence and adulthood
Research Objective
 To explore the meaning of sexting
 To find out various component that cause sexting among the adolescence and adulthood
 To evaluate negative impact of sexting in adolescence and adulthood
 To study the strategies by which sexting can control among the adulthood
LITERATURE REVIEW
Meaning of sexting
According to the view of Reid, (2016) sexting refers to the term which comes in the
media and it is created by intermission the term that are Sex and texting. In the present time,
technology is growing in fast manner and its utilisation among adult, children, and old age
people has also increased. It helps in several area like education, employment etc but it has also
some negative impact on the people. sexting is a kind of act which conduct by mobile phone,
email, internet, social media etc. This kind of act can happen while anyone wants to become
sexual with someone so it can be said that it is an instant sexual emotional state. In the present
time, most of the people sue various social media sites, like Facebook, YouTube, twitter,
instagram for sending sex video, images, pictures, link, message to other. In the opinion of
Thurlow, (2016) sexting is happened mostly among boyfriend and girlfriends.
1

Explore the component for causing sexting among adolescence
According to the view of Rice and et.al., (2017) means of communication is one of the
factor for arising sexting among the adults and children. In the present time, children starts
involving in relationship from their childhood so this is major reason for arising sexting. Many
teen and young engage in romantic relationships so in order to get enjoyment during their session
they use sex image, video, messages etc. In addition to this, they believe that sexting is one of the
most private and safe mode of communication as compare to mobile voice interaction. Due to
maintain safe and private relationship with their girlfriend and boyfriend they involve in the
sexting. On the contradicting view Stanley and et.al., (2016) stated that many of the teenagers
uses sexting as their normal behaviour and they try to involve in flirting for gain popularity. In
the present time, adult film and scene is mostly influenced children and adult for involving
sexting because due to these kinds of films and scene, teenager can not control their emotion and
feeling for their boyfriend and girlfriend so that they engage with sexting. In the opinion of
Albury, Hasinoff and Senft, (2017) sexting mostly arise among the teenager and adults as a joke
and fun. As per the research it has been founded that in the 2008, approximate 51% of girls are
involving in the sexting due to pressurised by their boyfriend and on the other hand 18% of boy
are using sexting because they are pressurised by their girlfriends. In the view of Bauman,
(2016) stated that social media is one of the factor by which sexting is meeting increased in the
present time. Today, the use of social media is highly increased due to this its misuse is also
enhanced. People use these channels such as Facebook, Twitter, instagram etc for their fun and
time pass. By use of these channels sex message, images, video, links is exchange among the
adults which promote the act of sexting. Due to increase the use of internet and social media,
teenager engage with sexting. From this above discussion , it has been founded that there are
several kinds of reason and causes due to which this kind of act has been occurred among the
Teenagers in the present time.
Assess negative impact of sexting
According to the view of Lorang, McNiel and Binder, (2016) due to the sexting, mostly
teenage girl are negatively influenced. While teenagers are involved in the relationship then they
exchange their dirty pictures with each other. After breaking up the relationship, some boy
circulate the picture of their girlfriend on the internet for getting revenge from her. Thus, it can
2

be said that this kind of act negatively influence to the girl in the manner of socially, mentally
and physically. Due to this reason, sometime teenage girls commit to the suicide. Thus, it can be
said that mostly negative impact of sexting on the Teenage girls. On the contradicting view
Junco, (2017) stated that, sexting also influence to the collage and school level students as they
distract from their studies due to this sexting. In addition to this, they are not able to focusing on
their study and career so this thing can directly negatively influence to their future. In the opinion
of van Oosten, Vandenbosch and Peter, (2016) stated that sexting creates the bad reputation in
the society.
Significance of the research
The present study is based on the sexting, its factor, its impact on the adolescence and
adulthood. This investigation assist in getting the detail information about the issue and causes of
the sexting in the adolescence and adulthood. (Shade, 2016) Anyone can acknowledge about the
reason fo arising sexting in the present time among the child and adults and its negative impact
on their life. By this study, issue of sexting can overcome among the children and adult because
it can provide the knowledge about factors of sexting.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In the current study, for attain the aim to analyse the factor for causes of sexting in
adolescence and adulthood scholar will use several methods of research methodology. It is very
important chapter through which correct solution can find out for research issue. Following are
some method which used by investigator for addressing solution for present aim- Research philosophies- It is one of the most important tool in the research methodology
by which issue can address by scholar. It is a kind of method which used to create an
effective background of the investigation and develop appropriate solution for research
issue (Johnson and Christensen, 2010). In the current study, scholar will use positivism
philosophy by which scholar will effectively analyse the components that cause sexting
in the adolescence and adulthood. Research Techniques- Research technique helps to scholar in conducting investigation
and collection data about the topic (Golafshani, 2003). Qualitative and quantitative major
two kinds of tool. In the present study, qualitative research technique will apply by
investigator for conducting the investigation for analyse factor by which causes of sexting
among adulthood.
3

 Research design- In the present study, researcher will apply descriptive research design
under which scholar can conduct deep analysis and investigate information about the
topic. With assistance of this tool, appropriate solution can obtain for the research issue. Data collection- It is a process under which information can collected from primary and
secondary source. Survey, interview, questionnaire comes under the primary data
collection method (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005). In addition to these Books, journal,
articles, online website uses in the secondary data collection. Scholar will use primary
data collection in this present study under which survey will organise for teenagers. Sampling- Researcher will use random sampling method under which 15 teenager who
are fresher student in UK university. From these 15 teenagers, researcher will collect
information about sexting.
 Ethical Consideration- In order to conduct investigation, ethics is one major concern
which needed to consider by researcher (DeSpain, 2008). One major ethical aspect for
researcher is to use relevant and appropriate information in the study. Scholar are not
supposed to pressurise anyone for fulfil questionnaire.
SCOPE AND PROBLEM
In the present study, the major problem related to the time and fund. In order to conduct
investigation, scholar required sufficient time period but there is very limited time so as scholar
may face the problem. In addition to this, another major problem related to the scope of subject.
On this topic, different authors has stated different things and statement thus, it is very difficult
to collect and summarise information about the subject (Lee, Moak and Walker, 2016). Another
major limitation is related to fund. In various activities like transportation, internet cost, printing,
stationary required some capital but due to lack of fund, researcher may face the issue while
conducting investigation.
4

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Albury, K., Hasinoff, A. A. and Senft, T., (2017). From Media Abstinence to Media Production:
sexting, Young People and Education. In The Palgrave Handbook of Sexuality
Education. Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Bauman, S., (2016), July. When sexting Becomes Cyberbullying: Helping Victims. In National
Conference Against Bullying.
Denzin, N. and Lincoln, Y., (2005). Handbook of Qualitative Research. 3rd Edition. Thousand
Oaks: Sage
DeSpain, L., (2008). The Relationship Between Police Supervisor Training and Job Satisfaction
Levels as Reported by Patrol Officers. ProQuest.
Golafshani, N., (2003). Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The
Qualitative Report. 8(4). pp.597-607.
Johnson, B. and Christensen, L., (2010). Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and
Mixed Approaches. UK: SAGE.
Junco, R., (2017). Resharing of Images or Videos Without Consent: A Form of Relationship
Violence and Harassment. Harmful Speech Online. pp.16.
Lee, C. H., Moak, S. and Walker, J. T., (2016). Effects of self-control, social control, and social
learning on sexting behavior among South Korean youths. Youth & Society. 48(2).
pp.242-264.
Lorang, M. R., McNiel, D. E. and Binder, R. L., (2016). Minors and sexting: Legal Implications.
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. 44(1).pp.73-81.
Medrano, J. L. J., Lopez Rosales, F. and Gámez-Guadix, M., (2017). Assessing the links of
sexting, cybervictimization, depression, and suicidal ideation among university students.
Archives of suicide research. pp.1-12.
Minor, A.D., 2016. sexting Prosecutions: Teenagers and Child Pornography Laws. Howard
LJ.60.pp.309.
Reid, J. A., (2016). Child pornography in the 21st Century: From child pornographic exploitation
to youth sexting. Oxford University Press.
5

Rice, E., and et.al., (2017). Associations Between sexting Behaviors and Sexual Behaviors
Among Mobile Phone‐Owning Teens in Los Angeles. Child Development.
Shade, L.R., (2016). sexting panic: rethinking criminalization, privacy, and consent.
Stanley, N., and et.al., (2016). Pornography, sexual coercion and abuse and sexting in young
people’s intimate relationships: a European study. Journal of interpersonal violence.
pp.0886260516633204.
Thurlow, C., (2016). Beyond words: The semiotic ideologies of sexting.
van Oosten, J. M. F., Vandenbosch, L. and Peter, J., (2016). From sexy to sexting: Adolescent
girls’ susceptibility to the influence of sexy online self-presentation on the willingness to
engaging in sexting.
Online
What is sexting?. 2017. [Online].Available
through:<https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/
sexting/>.[Accessed on 15 September 2017].
6