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How Common is Sexting [Facts & Statistics]
September 4, 2024
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[Facts & Statistics]">
We’ve analyzed data from a large longitudinal dataset that includes 110,380 teenagers and 54,677 adults who self-reported their sexting behaviors. This dataset provides valuable insights into the prevalence and patterns of sexting. In this article, we present some key findings based on our analysis.
Table of contents:
- Sexting over time
- Comparing teenagers and adults
- Teens and sexting
- Age and Gender differences in sexting
- Reasons for sexting
- Forwarding/Sharing sexting without consent
- Other studies
Key Findings
- 9 out of 10 adults have sent or received a sexual message, an image, or a video.
- 1 in 5 teenagers has taken part in sexting – sending, or receiving sexually nude or nearly nude photos through text or email.
- 1 in 7 teenagers has exchanged sexts (with images or videos) with a partner.
- Over 50% of adults reluctantly engaged in sexting.
- 18% of people have shared a sexting message with others without consent, of which 55% share it with more than one other person.
- 24% of teenagers aged 14-18 have sent sexts with images
- 39% of parents report feeling worried their child may engage in sexting
Sexting over time
Following the analysis of historical data, we observed trends in sexting behaviors over time among respondents of different age groups.
We examined the prevalence of sexting messages sent and received by respondents, as well as instances of sharing such messages without consent. The data was segmented into two groups: teenagers aged 11-18 and adults aged 19+.
Sexting prevalence amongst adults over time
The data from 2023 reveals the following regarding adults’ sexting behavior:
- 87.9% of adults report having received a sexting message.
- 76.9% of adults report having sent a sexting message.
- 18.2% of adults report having shared a sexting message without consent.
The detailed data is presented in the table below:
| Among Adults (+19) | Sent sext | Received sext | Shared sext |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.7% | 10.3% | 5.6% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | 13.7% | 6.9% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | 15% | 6.6% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | 17% | 6.1% |
| 2004 | 7% | 18.7% | 6.4% |
| 2005 | 7.1% | 18.2% | 6.2% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | 23.9% | 8.1% |
| 2007 | 11% | 28.9% | 9.8% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | 23.5% | 8% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | 28.1% | 9.5% |
| 2010 | 14.6% | 48.8% | 16.6% |
| 2011 | 16% | 49.4% | 16.8% |
| 2012 | 22.1% | 63.4% | 16.8% |
| 2013 | 21.2% | 57.8% | 25.8% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | 33.8% | 15.4% |
| 2015 | 24.7% | 52.4% | 24.3% |
| 2016 | 39.4% | 81% | 23.5% |
| 2017 | 45.6% | 87.4% | 26.1% |
| 2018 | 49.8% | 91.6% | 20% |
| 2019 | 44.9% | 78% | 15.5% |
| 2020 | 57.1% | 79.1% | 18.7% |
| 2021 | 63% | 79.6% | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 68.3% | 82.1% | 19% |
| 2023 | 76.9% | 87.9% | 18.2% |
Sexting prevalence amongst teenagers over time
Based on the latest data from 2023, teenagers reported the following regarding their sexting behavior:
- 38.2% of teens report having received a sexting message.
- 26.5% of teens report having sent a sexting message.
- 13.0% of teens report having shared a sexting message without consent.
Details of teenage sexting prevalence are provided in the table below:
| Among teens (11-18) | Sent sext | Received sext | Shared sext |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.9% | 9.4% | 5.1% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | 9.8% | 3.8% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | 10.0% | 4.4% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | 10.6% | 3.8% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | 11.0% | 3.7% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | 12.1% | 4.1% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | 13.3% | 4.5% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | 15.2% | 5.2% |
| 2008 | 6.5% | 18.1% | 6.2% |
| 2009 | 7% | 23.4% | 8% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | 25.7% | 8.7% |
| 2011 | 8.4% | 26.0% | 8.8% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | 26.4% | 12% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | 27.5% | 12.3% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | 28.2% | 12.8% |
| 2015 | 13.7% | 29.1% | 13.5% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | 30.0% | 13.8% |
| 2017 | 16.3% | 31.2% | 14.5% |
| 2018 | 17.8% | 32.7% | 11.1% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | 32.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | 34.4% | 11.7% |
| 2021 | 22.5% | 34.6% | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 24.4% | 37.3% | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 26.5% | 38.2% | 13.0% |
- Teens:
- The percentage of teens who shared messages without consent remained relatively low from 2000 to 2009, fluctuating between 3.7% and 8%.
- There was a notable increase from 2009 onwards, peaking at 14.5% in 2017. Following 2017, there was a slight decline, but the percentages remained higher than in the early 2000s, settling around 13% by 2023.
- Adults:
- The percentage of adults who shared messages without consent was relatively stable from 2000 to 2009, ranging between 5.6% and 9.8%.
- Starting in 2010, there was a significant jump, reaching its peak at 25.8% in 2013.
- The percentage saw fluctuations post-2013, with noticeable drops in 2014 and 2019. By 2023, it was around 18.2%.
- Comparative Analysis:
- In the early 2000s, the percentages for both teens and adults were relatively close.
- From 2010 onwards, adults generally had a higher percentage of sharing messages without consent compared to teens, with significant disparities in certain years like 2013, 2015, and 2017.
- In recent years, the gap between teens and adults has started to close again.
| % have shared sext | Teens | Adults |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | 6.9% |
| 2002 | 4.4% | 6.6% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | 6.1% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | 6.4% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | 6.2% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | 8.1% |
| 2007 | 5.2% | 9.8% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | 8.0% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | 9.5% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | 16.6% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | 16.8% |
| 2012 | 12.0% | 16.8% |
| 2013 | 12.3% | 25.8% |
| 2014 | 12.8% | 15.4% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | 24.3% |
| 2016 | 13.8% | 23.5% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | 26.1% |
| 2018 | 11.1% | 20.0% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | 15.5% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | 18.7% |
| 2021 | 11.8% | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | 18.2% |
Teens and sexting
- 1 out of 7 teens aged 12-17 report exchanging sexting images or videos without consent (14.2%). While 24% of teenagers aged 14-18 have sent a sext containing a video or an image.
- 1 in 5 teens have engaged in some form of sexting; sending, receiving, or sharing sexts (all with images or videos).
- 40% of teens report engaging in non-consensual sexting (sexually explicit messages, images, or videos).
- 70% of teenagers who report sending an image or a video-based sext to a partner felt coerced or pressured into doing so.
- Teenage girls are 20% more likely to send a semi-nude or nude photo in a sext (22%) compared to teenage boys (18%).
- 39% of parents of teenagers report feeling worried their child might engage in sexting.
Age and Gender differences in sexting
Looking at some demographical differences of the most recent data (2020-2023), there are some interesting findings in tabulating the dataset.
In general, the data shows that:
- Women report sexting more than men.
- 70% of women believe that sexting is considered cheating.
Sexting to others
- Females consistently sext more than males across all age groups. The largest gap is seen in the “Adult, 41-60” group, where 88.4% of females sent a sext compared to 65.4% of males.
- Sexting is most prevalent in the “Adult, 41-60” age group, with 76.9% for all, 65.4% for males, and a significant 88.4% for females.
- The youngest age group (Teenager, 11-18) has the lowest percentage of individuals who sent a sext, but there’s still a clear gender disparity, with females (31.8%) sexting more than males (21.2%).
- As expected, the “All adults” category averages out the adult age groups and showcases the overall trend of females sexting more than males.
| % Sent sext | All | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teenager, 11-18 | 26.5% | 21.2% | 31.8% |
| Adult, 19-40 | 73.1% | 65.7% | 80.4% |
| Adult, 41-60 | 76.9% | 65.4% | 88.4% |
| Adult, 61+ | 52.3% | 42.9% | 61.7% |
| All adults | 67.4% | 58.0% | 76.8% |
Receiving sexting messages
- Females receive sexts more than males across all age groups. This disparity is most pronounced in the “Adult, 19-40” age group, where 91.9% of females received a sext compared to 75.2% of males.
- The highest percentage of individuals receiving sexts is in the “Adult, 41-60” age group, with 87.9% for all, 86.1% for males, and 89.7% for females. The difference between genders is narrower in this age group compared to others.
- The “Teenager, 11-18” age group sees a significant- Females receive more sexts than males, with 45.8% of females and 30.6% of males receiving a sext.
- Regarding the finding from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (2009), it reveals that about 15% of teens have electronically sent or posted online nude or semi-nude images of themselves.
- A study by The Drexel University (2012) suggests that nearly 20% of adults engage in sexting, with a higher prevalence among younger adults.
- The Pew Research Center study (2012) highlights that 4% of cell phone owners have sent sexually explicit images, and 15% have received such images.
- Findings from The University of Utah (2017) indicate that sexting is common among young adults and is linked to increased sexual behavior and risky sexual activities.
- Additionally, studies have emphasized that sexting can result in regret and has potential legal, social, and psychological implications.
- Moreover, certain research has shown the misuse of sexting as a form of cyberbullying, particularly when images are shared without consent.
- Research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (2015) found an association between sexting and escalated sexual behaviors in adolescents.
- A study by The University of New Hampshire (2015) revealed the prevalence of sexting among college students and its correlation with increased sexual activities.
- The Crimes Against Children Research Center (2010) identified a substantial involvement of youth in sending and receiving sexually explicit images.
- Findings from The University of Michigan (2015) indicated that sexting is prevalent among young adults and is associated with higher levels of sexual satisfaction.
- The Yale University School of Medicine (2015) observed a common practice of sexting among young adults, coupled with risky sexual behaviors.
- Barrense-Dias, Y., Berchtold, A., Surís, J. C., & Akre, C. (2017). Sexting and the definition issue. Journal of adolescent health, 61(5), 544-554.
- Klettke, B., Hallford, D. J., & Mellor, D. J. (2014). Sexting prevalence and correlates: A systematic literature review. Clinical psychology review, 34(1), 44-53.
- Gordon-Messer, D., Bauermeister, J. A., Grodzinski, A., & Zimmerman, M. (2013). Sexting among young adults. Journal of adolescent health, 52(3), 301-306.
- Lenhart, A. (2009). Teens and sexting (Vol. 5). Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project.
- Strasburger, V. C., Zimmerman, H., Temple, J. R., & Madigan, S. (2019). Teenagers, sexting, and the law. Pediatrics, 143(5).
- Strassberg, … (continues)
- Archives of sexual behavior, 42, D. S., McKinnon, R. K., Sustaíta, M. A., & Rullo, J. (2013). An exploratory and descriptive study on sexting by high school students: 15-21
- Wolak, J., & Finkelhor, D. (2011). A typology on sexting
- Pediatrics, 129(1), Mitchell, K. J., Finkelhor, D., Jones, L. M., & Wolak, J. (2012). National study on the prevalence and characteristics of youth sexting: 13-20
- American Journal of Sexuality Education, 7(1), Dake, J. A., Price, J. H., Maziarz, L., & Ward, B. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of sexting behavior in adolescents: 1-15
- New Media & Society, 20(10), Symons, K., Ponnet, K., Walrave, M., & Heirman, W. (2018). Investigating whether sexting scripts are becoming the norm in adolescent relationships: 3836-3857
- Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 166(9), Temple, J. R., Paul, J. A., Van Den Berg, P., Le, V. D., McElhany, A., & Temple, B. W. (2012). Associations between teen sexting and sexual behaviors: 828-833
- Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 51(7), Ahern, N. R., & Mechling, B. (2013). Addressing serious problems for youth related to sexting: 22-30
- Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), Delevi, R., & Weisskirch, R. S. (2013). Predicting sexting behavior based on personality factors: 2589-2594
- Computers in human behavior, 27(5), Weisskirch, R. S., & Delevi, R. (2011). Exploring the relationship between “Sexting” and adult romantic attachment: 1697-1701
- Journal of Youth Studies, 20(4), Van Ouytsel, J., Van Gool, E., Walrave, M., Ponnet, K., & Peeters, E. (2017). Adolescents’ perceptions of sexting applications, motives, and consequences: 446-470
- Computers in Human Behavior, 75, Drouin, M., Coupe, M., & Temple, J. R. (2017). Investigating the impact of sexting on relationships: 749-756
- The True Prevalence of “Sexting” by Lounsbury, K., Mitchell, K. J., & Finkelhor, D. (2011)
- The international encyclopedia of media literacy, Van Ouytsel, J., Walrave, M., Ponnet, K., & Temple, J. R. (2019). Overview of sexting phenomenon: 1-6
- A qualitative study of children, young people and’sexting’ prepared for the NSPCC by Ringrose, J., Gill, R., Livingstone, S., & Harvey, L. (2012)
- Archives of sexual behavior, 41, Agustina, J. R., & Gómez-Durán, E. L. (2012). Globalized social phenomenon research criteria on sexting: 1325-1328
- Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 8(1), Döring, N. (2014). Examining consensual sexting among adolescents and risk prevention strategies: 9
- Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, Strassberg, D. S., Cann, D., & Velarde, V. (2017). Exploring sexting behavior by high school students: 1667-1672
- Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(5), Englander, E. (2019). Understanding the concept of sexting: 577-578
- Computers in Human Behavior, 31, Samimi, P., & Alderson, K. G. (2014). Investigation on sexting among undergraduate students: 230-241
- Journal of Crime and Justice, 36(1), Reyns, B. W., Burek, M. W., Henson, B., & Fisher, B. S. (2013). Unintended consequences of digital technology and the relationship between sexting and cybervictimization: 1-17
– The overall trend shows that females receive more sexts than males across all adult age groups when averaged in the “All adults” category.
– Males across all age groups share sexts more than females, which is a reversal from the previous trend of females sending and receiving more sexts than males. Notably, in the “Adult, 19-40” group, 25.7% of males shared a sext compared to only 2.9% of females.
– The highest percentage of individuals sharing sexts is in the “Adult, 41-60” age group, with 18.2% overall, 28.8% for males, and 7.6% for females, showing a significant gender difference.
– The gender gap is evident in the “Teenager, 11-18” age group, where 18.2% of males share a sext compared to 7.8% of females.
– In the “All adults” category, the trend continues with males sharing more sexts (20.5%) than females (4.7%).
– In terms of reasons for sexting, teenage girls and boys both report engaging in sexting to be flirtatious and fun. Additionally, pressure from a man is cited as a reason by 51% of teenage girls. Overall, 61% of all respondents have engaged in sexting due to feeling pressured, with 12% sending nude pictures under pressure.
– Despite a decline in sharing sexting messages without consent over recent years, around 17-18% of people who engaged in sexting later share the content without consent, with 55% sharing with multiple people.
– Studies on sexting show slightly varying results, with a summary statistics table presented for teenage sexting, including percentages for receiving, sending, sharing, and having sexts shared.
– An overview of various studies on sexting among teenagers includes data on participants, mean age, male percentage, types of sexting, sexting contents, and geographic areas covered.
| Study | Participants | Mean Age | SD Age | Key Aspects | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| et al (2011) | 2,077 | 16.03 | 44.6 | R | P | United States |
| Fleschler Peskin et al (2013) | 1034 | 16.34 | 37.4 | S,R,SH-P | P,V,M | United States |
| Harris et al (2013) | 123 | 16.6 | 44.7 | S,R,SH-P | P,V,M | United States |
| Houck et al (2014) | 410 | 12.34 | 53.4 | S | P,M | United States |
| Kerstens and Stol (2014) | 4,453 | 13.9 | 51.2 | S,R | P,V | the Netherlands |
| Kopecký (2015) | 1,237 | 14 | 44.9 | S | P,V | Czech Republic |
| Kopecký (2014) | 21,372 | 14 | 44.6 | S,SH-V | P,V,M | Czech Republic |
| Lee et al (2016) | 1,612 | 16 | 35.7 | S | P,V | Republic of Korea |
| Lee et al (2015) | 683 | 15.5 | 47 | S,R | P,V | Australia |
Exploring further into the effects and outcomes of sexting among adults and adolescents:
Collectively, these studies underscore the prevalence of sexting among young adults and its connection to various sexual behaviors and outcomes. It is crucial for individuals to comprehend the possible repercussions of sexting and to make informed decisions regarding their engagement in such behavior.
References
Data is from 2023 and 2024, and forecast data is for 2025 and 2026. Forecast data has been extended to 2027 and 2028.
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REFERENCES:
This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
How Common is Sexting [Facts & Statistics]
