Sci Tech
More Americans Sexting, But Still Not As Much As Canadians
More Americans Sexting, But Still Not As Much As Canadians
A report out by the Pew Research has found that Americans, particularly the young, are sexiting in ever increasing numbers. In fact, the increase in the number intimate text messages or partially nude to fully nude images has increased by 33% from 15% of cell phone users to 20%. The increase is considered statistically significant meaning it is attributed to causes other than minor aberrations or changes.
As previously stated, it is the young who are accounting for the biggest increases in sext messages. That doesn’t mean they are the only ones though. In the past, it was people in the age group of 25 – 30+ that engaged in sending intimate messages. Now, it is the age group of 18 – 24 that is leading this new twist on the sexual revolution. 9% of survey respondents confessed to sending sexual messages and one in five admitted to receiving them.
Single people are the most likely to engage in sexting. The next most likely group is committed or married people whose relationships have lasted under 10 years. It is believed that the rise in smartphones has enabled people to easily engage in the sharing of intimate messages.
In many countries, including Canada, ‘sexting’ can be considered a crime if the persons portrayed are minors.
Studies show that sexting has become a common practice among teens and young people. And it has led to child pornography charges in some countries, even against teens who were romantically involved and consensually exchanged intimate photos.
In June on last year, a federal-provincial committee set up in response to the Parsons case recommended “that a new criminal offence addressing the non-consensual distribution of intimate images be created.”
The proposed law would not only apply to minors.
According to a 2013 survey of 4,200 Canadians 18 years and over by Canadian Living magazine, 52 per cent of those surveyed “admitted to sexting.”
On the Web:
The fine line between ‘sexting’ and child pornography
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/the-fine-line-between-sexting-and-child-pornography-1.1367613
You’ve Been Sexting a Lot More, Study Shows
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2014/02/sexting-relationship-report/