Episode 193: The Rise of Teen Sexting

In the United States, a whopping 89% of teens now have smartphones. Parents give their kids these devices for numerous reasons, with safety being at the top of the list; however, parents don’t necessarily know or have control over how their kids are using their phones. And a heck of a lot of kids are using them for sexting. This has created a lot of controversy and debate. Some see it as an inherently dangerous trend that poses great risk to teens, whereas others see it as just another way that youth are exploring their sexuality in an increasingly digital word. So let’s talk about teen sexting, including tips for safer-sexting, and what to do if you’ve discovered that your child is sexting. I am joined once again by Dr. Michele Meek, a writer, filmmaker, professor, and entrepreneur. She is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Studies department at Bridgewater State University. Her most recent book Consent Culture and Teen Films: Adolescent Sexuality in US Movies delves into the history of adolescent sexuality in the media. Some of the topics we discuss include: How prevalent is teen sexting? What motivates sexting among teens and adolescents? How worried should we be about the rise of teen sexting? What should parents know about sexting, and what should they be teaching their kids about it? How does sex ed need to change to best serve today’s youth? Be sure to check out Michele’s website to learn more about her films, writing, and other projects. Thank you to our sponsors! Support sex science by becoming a friend of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Visit kinseyinstitute.org to make a donation to support ongoing research projects on critical topics. You can also show your support by following the Kinsey Institute on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. *** Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram. Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast! Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.