Sexting through the Spanish adolescent discourse

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the practices of sexting in a group of Spanish adolescents and thus contribute to their better understanding through a novel research in Spain. The aim is to discover the knowledge that adolescents have about the phenomenon of sexting and to investigate their behaviors and motivations towards sexting, revealing if they perceive consequences of this type of behavior. Through the qualitative approach, eight focus groups were made, composed of 89 adolescents, from 14 to 18 years old. Among the results they emphasize the ignorance of the concept of sexting, even confusing it with harassment and blackmail. Although only a fifth of the participants recognize practicing sexting, they admit that it is a very frequent practice among people of their age, especially among girls. The reasons they allude to justify their participation in sexting behaviors are fundamentally sexual in nature, while they point out that people of their age carry out sexting behavior for fun, boredom or for being fashionable. They also recognize there are certain risks derived from sexting behaviors, which affect girls more negatively. In addition, most young people are aware of situations of coercion and blackmail among their peers to send erotic-sexual content, as well as other realities such as cyberbullying and cyberstalking.