Sexting: The Risky Practice Of Sending Spicy Photos To Each Other Via Mobile Phone
Couples who practice “sexting “, that is, they are sent sexually suggestive or explicit images via mobile phone or social networks, have better sex and are more satisfied in their relationship, according to a study from Drexler University in the United States.
Misuse of “sexting” can cause psychological problems
“Sexting” (a term that comes from the contraction between sex and textingand which is also called sexting in Spanish) has become very popular with the emergence of social networks and smartphones, and It consists of exchanging images or videos of oneself with high erotic or sexual content with someone you trust For several years now, this practice has spread among young people and adults.
Sexting is considered a risky sexual practice, since there may be certain risks associated with its use. For example, the access of minors to inappropriate content or the dissemination of the material among acquaintances (without the consent of the author of the image or video).
Some cases of sexting that ended badly
As has happened on several occasions, some private images have ended up coming to light, jeopardizing the moral integrity and reputation of the person. whose compromised photos became public domain
In Spain, one of the most famous cases was that of the councilor of The Yébenes (province of Toledo) Olvido Hormigos. A video that Hormigos sent to a romantic couple and in which he appeared masturbating ended up coming to light, an event that unleashed a real scandal. media storm
These cases have also sparked a certain debate about the risks of sending erotic photos to someone, precisely because of the danger that this third person could misuse them. Furthermore, it is not uncommon the attack of specialists in hackingcapable of accessing information from smartphones , being able to extract all the videos and photographs stored in the device’s memory. In fact, a few months ago a good handful of celebrities The likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardasian and Selena Gómez acknowledged having been victims of the theft of intimate photos.
The distribution of this type of material can bring serious legal consequences and the development of psychological problems when young people or adults lose control over the content and it ends up reaching unwanted recipients.
“Sexting” is an increasingly common courtship practice
According to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Michigan (USA), who used a sample of 3,447 men and women, aged between 18 and 24, “sexting” is not a behavior sexually risky, but is part of the procession , since social networks have provided new ways of interpersonal relationships. Although, yes, one of the most used platforms for sexting is the instant messaging offered by WhatsApp.
“The appearance of technology in people’s lives causes this type of sexual practices,” argues José Arturo Bauermeister, director of the Sexuality and Health Laboratory and co-author of this study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Couples who practice sexting are more satisfied in their relationship
“Sexting” is not only widespread among young people, but adults also enjoy this practice According to research from the Women’s Health Psychology Laboratory at Drexler University, the use of sexting between partners is associated with good health in the relationship.
The research included 870 American subjects aged 18 to 82 and was presented at the 123rd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Society in Toronto. 88% of the subjects who participated in the study acknowledged having practiced “sexting” at some point in their lives, and 82% in the last year. 75% of those surveyed stated that they had done so within a stable relationship and 43% in a more casual relationship.
Finally, the researchers found a relationship between higher levels of couple satisfaction and the more frequent use of this practice That is, couples who are more satisfied with their relationship practice more sexting.
