When Sexting Crosses the Line: Educator Responsibilities in the Support of Prosocial Adolescent Behavior and the Prevention of Violence

Abstract

This article presents findings from a systematic literature review that examined various forms of adolescent sexting, and as relevant to educator responsibilities in the support of prosocial behavior and teen dating violence (TDV) prevention within the United States. Proceeding in three parts, part one documents study methodology and offers an overview of adolescent sexting. This section also discusses tensions between sexting as adolescent empowerment and as a form of dating violence. This is followed by a deeper examination of how adolescent sexting is connected to other forms of sexual violence documented to disproportionately affect heterosexual females. Though laws on sexting are minimal, part three discusses U.S. federal and Supreme Court guidance having particular significance for this issue. This section also presents the case of New York State (NYS) to consider the connection between localized policies and schooling practices. Concerned with sexting as a form of consensual adolescent behavior, this article concludes with considerations for educational research, policy, and practice. This article contributes to established research literature weighing the prosocial aspects of sexting against those factors that contribute to and make it difficult to leave a violent relationship. Though empirical research was limited, it also highlights existent research on sexting as relevant to underserved and marginalized adolescent subgroups.

“Something You Just Don’t Talk About”: An Analysis of Teenage Boys’ Experiences of Non-Consensual Sexting in Lower Secondary School

“…Nonetheless, the field is clearly lacking in qualitative investigations that explore sexting in different educational settings from boys’ perspectives. Other studies have emphasized the importance of educating young people, professionals, and parents about the multifaceted nature of sexting (e.g., Cooper et al, 2016; Jørgensen et al, 2019; Lemke & Rogers, 2020; Madigan et al, 2018; Van Ouytsel et al, 2014). As an addition to the ongoing discussion on sexting prevention, here I would like to draw attention to boys’ need for support and education concerning male vulnerabilities in situations when experiences of sexting become emotionally violent.…”

“…Sexting is a form of sexual exploration that we can assume will be used by teens, but the right to consent to sexting is complex, and teen sexting can take the form of revenge porn, secondary sexting, and aggravated sexting (Lemke & Rogers, 2020). According to a study by Van Ouytsel et al (2016), there are three main ways in which teens can abuse sexts.…”

“…Young people’s sexting practices have been explored in a gradually growing body of international research (e.g., Barrense-Dias et al, 2017; Cooper et al, 2016; Jørgensen et al, 2019; Lemke & Rogers, 2020; Madigan et al, 2018). Despite this, there is still a lack of qualitative investigations looking at sexting in different educational settings (Anastassiou, 2017).…”

A Growth Mindset and Self-Affirmation Intervention to Reduce Violent and Risky Online Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Previous Victimization

“…As mentioned, sexting behavior can be a low risk behavior that is part of sexual exploration and communication in adolescents (Lemke & Rogers, 2020). However, it can become an abusive behavior when the recipient does not wish to receive sexual material, when it involves pressure on the other person to send sexual material, or when the material is forwarded to third parties (Morelli et al, 2016).…”

“…Sexting has been described as the creation and exchange of text messages, photos, or videos with sexual or erotic content via the Internet or smartphones (Galovan et al, 2018). Although sexting can often be seen as a healthy, low-risk form of voluntary sexual exploration (Englander, 2019), it has the potential to become coercive if used to manipulate, abuse, coerce, and control the behavior of other people (Lemke & Rogers, 2020). The association between social solicitation by adults and sexting behavior is attributable to the fact that adults who engage in sexual solicitations tend to justify the sharing of sexual material online and normalize online sexual behaviors as a way to trap children in abusive sexual relationships (Gámez-Guadix & Mateos-Pérez, 2019).…”