Friends, lovers, risk and intimacy: risk-taking as a socially meaningful practice

Abstract

Th e aim of this study is to understand the notion of risk in photo-sharing practices and the purpose of risk in the development of intimate relationships. We argue that risk in the form of self-disclosure is a key aspect of intimate photo sharing rather than an undesirable side eff ect, and that a broader analytical perspective on the role of risk in the development of intimate relationships allows us to understand risky photo sharing as a socially meaningful practice. We unfold and elaborate the link between risk and intimacy on the basis of fi ve focus group interviews with 21 German high school students aged 14 to 17. Th e interviews focus on the participants' sharing practices and the associated role played by risk. Th e data indicate that risk does serve a social purpose as a way of 'proving friendship'. However, the data also suggest that the young people in the study are more willing to accept risk related to 'friendly intimacy' as compared to 'romantic intimacy'. We discuss the potential reasons for this diff erence as well as its wider methodological and theoretical implications.

The rhythms of shame in digital sexual assault: Rhythmic resistance and the repeated assault

“…In academic, educational, legal and political contexts, stories of DSA have been circulating in recent years. Digital sexual assault has been described within the realm of gendered violence (Bates, 2017;McGlynn, et al, 2017;Uhl, et al, 2018), as a legal issue in a new mediated society (Henry and Powell, 2016), and often as a part of digital youth cultures (Döring, 2014;Rasmussen and Søndergaard, 2020;Ringrose, et al, 2013;Thorhauge and Bonitz, 2020). While these contributions add immensely to the understanding of digital sexuality and assault, there are certain weaknesses in the field, which I wish to address in this article.…”

What is visual intimacy?

“…We begin with a discussion of sexting, for it is often the key reference point when "intimate" pictures and visual intimacy are discussed (see Th orhauge et al, 2020, for an overview). In usually highly controversial debates, sexting is often described as a fundamentally risky practice (see, e.g., Hasinoff & Shepherd, 2014;Th orhauge & Bonitz, 2020). What makes it so fundamentally ambivalent is that it can imply explicit, visual bodily self-disclosure and provide information about (intimate) bodily features or practices.…”

“…Several studies argue that sexting can be part of regular sexual activity, an extension of an existing sexual relationship, e.g., as a pleasant anticipation, a compensation for the physical absence of a partner in a long-distance relationship, or a prelude to a relationship or hook-up (see, e.g., Harder et al, 2020;Weisskirch & Delevi, 2011). Importantly, studies also stress that sexting can be an activity between friends, a joke, or a practice used during a moment of bonding or exploring sexuality (Albury, 2015;Albury & Crawford, 2012;Th orhauge & Bonitz, 2020). Albury and Crawford's (2012) study shows that some respondents send sexts to maintain intimacy and connections in long-distance relationships.…”