Let’s talk about sexting!
Non-consensual sexting is a topic that attracts a lot of media attention. This is not surprising when you consider that the consequences for victims are comparable to those of traumatic experiences such as assault and rape. Non-consensual sexting not only has significant consequences for victims but can also have far-reaching consequences for the perpetrators, especially since non-consensual sexting has been criminalized since 2020.
With the research Let's talk about sexting!, we investigate which factors explain this form of digitalized youth crime. There are indications that offenders cannot be lumped together; different factors explain why someone commits a specific crime, depending on the specific form of criminality. Therefore, in this study, we compare young offenders of non-consensual sexting with young offenders of other "minor" offline offenses.
Sexting is a combination of the words ‘sex’ and ‘texting’ (sending online messages) and refers to creating and sending sexually explicit text, photo, or video messages. This often occurs via mobile phones and increasingly through social media.
Sexting is a part of the normal sexual development of adolescents. Young people experiment a lot, including in matters of love, relationships, and sex. Part of this experimentation happens online, which is referred to as sexting. It's a form of digital flirting.
However, if there is no consent for sexting or if images are shared with others against the will of the person depicted, this is considered overstepping boundaries and is referred to as non-consensual sexting. Our research focuses on non-consensual sexting.
Involved researchers
Collaboration
This project involves collaboration with Halt and other parties on the steering committee, such as De Waag, Police, Levvel, Child Protection Council, Koraal and Rutgers.
Funding
This project is funded by 'Kwaliteit Forensische Zorg jeugd'(KFZj) (in Dutch).