Shocking: Teens Talk Sex Online

from the well-what-do-you-know? dept

Mon, Dec 15th 2008 8:18am — Carlo Longino

Forty percent of US teens have sent sexually suggestive electronic messages, a new study says, adding that one in five have sent "nude or partially clothed images of themselves" via email or mobile phone -- fulfilling Mike's earlier prediction, following an overblown report about kids getting naked on cameraphones, that we'd soon be warned about this widespread phenomenon. Let's ignore, for a moment, the fact that this was an online survey, so drawing conclusions about how all teens behave from it seems a little shaky -- but hey, it makes a good headline, right? We'll also suspend our disbelief that teens -- who are likely communicating in similar ways, about similar things, offline -- would do this sort of stuff.

As with so many of these reports about kids' online behavior, any sort of positive takeaway here gets buried. In this case, about 80 percent of those surveyed realize that sending these messages or photos online could cause regret later or embarrassment, and three-quarters of them say it can have serious consequences, illustrating that they have a decent understanding of the ramifications of their actions. Doesn't that paint a little more positive picture of teens, that they aren't just leaping blindly into some morass of sketchy behavior and putting themselves at risk? This parallels earlier reports that have found teens do a decent job of looking out for themselves online. It just makes you wonder if maybe giving teens a little more credit and going from there, rather than trying to paint pictures that scare parents and politicians into action, might be a more effective way to protect teens from all these supposed online problems.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: kids, sex, studies

46 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

ehrichweiss, 15 Dec 2008 @ 8:42am

"Doesn't that paint a little more positive picture of teens, that they aren't just leaping blindly into some morass of sketchy behavior and putting themselves at risk?"

Not if you factor in teen pregnancy going on the rise.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 8:48am

teen pregnancy going on the rise because "stupid people" are also on the rise. There is dozens of ways to have sex without worrying about crapping a kid later. condoms, the morning after pill, birth control pills, abortion, etc. These things should be made more welcoming and easier for kids to get a hold of anonymously, put condom dispensers inside bathroom stalls in schools for instance. But no, people clinging to their backwards religions would rather close their eyes and have their spineless retard kids spawn more spineless retards.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RPK, 15 Dec 2008 @ 8:54am

Ummm...
Teen pregnancy rates have risen from 0.021% to 0.022% from the year 2005 to 2006 (last time data was available). I would hardly call that a rise, and even if it was one year of change certainly does not constitute a trend. Does generate headlines, though!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:01am

Re:
But there is this big rise in idiot parents that refuse to let their children know of such things. In sex-ed, now a days, it's all about abstinence. Safe sex has been removed from the class due to parent fear that it will encourage sex.

My dad was telling me a story about getting a good looking camera and having the cheerleaders "pose" for him. It's not a modern thing, it's a teenager thing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
JO, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:03am

Re: Ummm...
Thank you! The fact that teen pregnancy is far lower now then it was before the proliferation of the cell phone/digital camera and the Internet is often left out of the debate.

"Between 2005 and 2006, the birth rate for girls 15 to 19 rose 3 percent, from 40.5 births per 1,000 in 2005 to 41.9 births per 1,000 in 2006. This comes after 14 years of declining rates. During that time, teen births dropped 34 percent from a peak of 61.8 births per 1,000 in 1991, according to the report."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:03am

Teens talking sex
I was outside a McDonalds the other night, listening to a couple of workers chat. One was this little 16 y/o girl talking about how and why she likes older guys.

I was shocked, appalled, and yet still very interested to hear what she had to say...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:25am

The problem with your conclusion is that they are still doing it. 80% know it is dumb, but 40% are still doing it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:34am

Re:
Ooh, can I be in that 20% slice who know it's dumb but is doing it anyways?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DS, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:45am

This thread is useless without pics.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 9:49am

Re: Re:
Sounds good. Teenagers are probably the most logical people on the planet, so I am guessing I did the math wrong.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
eebsnallof, 15 Dec 2008 @ 11:15am

If abstinence "education" actually prevented pregnancy, the species would be in big trouble.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
toyotabedzrock, 15 Dec 2008 @ 11:18am

I believe this study and i think that the number are a little low. With the internet teens are able to for the first time develop there own sense of morality based on a more worldly view, rather than the view of there parents and community. The only thing that worries me is not that they share said pictures but who they share them with, for instance a person online pretending to be there age.

Also i think this study came about because of a 15yo who was arrested for having child pornography, of herself, on her cell phone. Follow the link for more info.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20081008/NEWS01/810080302
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 11:34am

Carlo and Mike,

I am constantly amused by some of the comments provided here. While unrelated to blogging, there can be times when a background in horticulture can be useful. Have you found a proper pruning technique yet?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 11:50am

we all come here for the comments anyways, it's the humorless sacks of hair that come in from time to time that makes this place boring.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Joe, 15 Dec 2008 @ 1:03pm

so 1/5 teens send semi sexi pictures...
and 4/5 know it's not a smart thing to do. At least the math adds up.

I'm not shocked, nor do i think this is something most parents should worry about. Most likely the parents who should worry are the ones who don't pay attention anyway.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2008 @ 2:01pm

Re:
There are comments here? Where are they?

I've been thinking of sending something mean to people that mean the most to me as a holiday gift. Maybe a big sack of goat or cow hair or something. Ideas?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bradley Stewart, 15 Dec 2008 @ 2:44pm

TEENS DO SILLY THINGS? I'M SHOCKED!
Well I'm not worried because I know Congress will hold endless hearings on the subject and if these great problem solvers can't get a fix for this shocking behavior I just don't know who can. I can hardly wait to see the rightess indignation on the faces of people like Joe Lieberman brooding and demanding that we must do something about this. I know, they will appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to write a report on the subject. I certainly can't think of a better way to spend our tax dollars than this. The only thing that worries me is I hope that there is enough room on a dusty old shelf in that room where they send all these reports never to be seen again.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dayamn1994, 15 Dec 2008 @ 8:41pm

hey
anyone in the mood for a bj tonight?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dan, 15 Dec 2008 @ 11:33pm

What? Teens are thinking about sex, and worse yet talk about it amongst themselves? We need immediate legislation to outlaw such selactious behavior. That should fix the problem.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ali, 16 Dec 2008 @ 7:31am

god s curse on u
sick people,this is your sick culture,way of like,that yu want to send us? yu can go to hell and thake your sick and dirst culture and way of life with u,god s curse on yu,liers,frauds,land grabersoil stealers,USE CONDOMS,AND PLAN B PILL,Syu basterd.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DS, 16 Dec 2008 @ 12:41pm

Re: god s curse on u
Yes, I totally agree that you should use birth control to avoid procreating...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Dec 2008 @ 7:42pm

call me my number is 9025790
[ link to this | view in thread ]
abdallah, 8 Jan 2009 @ 4:32am

sex
I hope to do my good habits
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 7 Feb 2009 @ 4:50pm

Offf fuck I am so horny !
[ link to this | view in thread ]
peyton, 13 Feb 2009 @ 10:05pm

omg
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Feb 2009 @ 10:06pm

i am aight
[ link to this | view in thread ]
fuck you, 13 Feb 2009 @ 10:07pm

Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
emily howards, 3 Nov 2009 @ 6:36pm

sex
i looove sex and i am only ten
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Jan 2010 @ 2:51pm

Re: TEENS DO SILLY THINGS? I'M SHOCKED!
you want to have sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]
pardonsimango, 9 Mar 2010 @ 4:56am

wuusp dood
hie
[ link to this | view in thread ]
alissa, 18 Jul 2010 @ 4:13pm

do you have sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]
usha, 3 Aug 2010 @ 6:57am

sex
i love having sex, i want to have sex but i cant find anyone to have it with!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mark, 6 Sep 2010 @ 6:10pm

sex
hi u guys umm i would like to say i was out in town with my girl friend we were talking and we went past two bins and behind was a hobo having sex with another hobo it was so disgusting.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mark, 6 Sep 2010 @ 6:13pm

toilet
hi again i was going to stick the rubbish in are bin out side when i opend it a hobbo was having a poo
i was acaualy sick
[ link to this | view in thread ]
hannah adams, 1 May 2011 @ 7:55pm

Re:sex
do some shit in the bed im naked right now
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 Apr 2012 @ 11:21pm

hi
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sex, 5 Apr 2012 @ 11:22pm

sex
hi sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 9 Apr 2012 @ 1:48pm

I want sex but I don't want anyone watching my video I need a guy and I want sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]
manoj, 4 May 2012 @ 2:56am

oye
lets have sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]
manoj, 4 May 2012 @ 2:57am

oye
lets have sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cody, 4 May 2012 @ 3:31pm

sexyiness
hey people some people are to sexy if the they want to be sexy just get naked take a picher and post it who whould not like that
[ link to this | view in thread ]
BRAM, 15 May 2012 @ 6:36pm

HAVING SEX WITH SEXY GRILS
HI AM 13 YEARS OLD AND AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME OVER TO MY HOUSE TO HAVE SEX I LIVE AT 87920 TERRITORIAL RD VENETA OR IF YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND HAVE SEX JUST GO TO THE RED BARN IN THE BACK YARD
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Wasim, 21 Aug 2012 @ 12:51am

Re: HAVING SEX WITH SEXY GRILS
I'm comming
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Savez, 21 Aug 2012 @ 1:08am

Having sex
Just come
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Khan, 21 Aug 2012 @ 1:09am

Re: Having sex
Come
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mayra, 25 Apr 2014 @ 11:32am

sex
sex
[ link to this | view in thread ]