Während sich die meisten amerikanischen Teenager nicht an Sexting beteiligen, ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit negativer Konsequenzen für diejenigen, die es tun, hoch. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass fast die Hälfte der Jugendlichen, die sexuell eindeutige Bilder senden, die Erfahrung machen, dass diese Bilder nicht einvernehmlich weitergegeben werden oder zur Zielscheibe von Sextortion werden.

>A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health [indicates](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.12.253) that while most American teenagers do not engage in sexting, those who do face a high probability of negative consequences. The findings suggest that nearly half of adolescents who send sexually explicit images experience nonconsensual sharing of those images or become targets of sextortion. These risks appear to increase dramatically when the content is shared with individuals who are not current romantic partners.

>The integration of digital technology into the daily lives of young people has altered how they explore their identities and sexuality. As adolescents navigate their developing romantic lives, some experiment with sending or receiving sexually suggestive images or videos. This behavior is commonly known as sexting. While this can be a form of consensual exploration, it carries potential legal, social, and emotional costs.

>Educators and mental health professionals have expressed concern regarding the misuse of these digital images. Once an image is sent, the sender loses control over its distribution. This can lead to the image being shown to others without permission. In more severe cases, it can lead to sextortion. This crime involves threatening to disseminate explicit images to force the victim to provide money, sexual acts, or additional images.

>Past estimates regarding the prevalence of sexting have varied. Some earlier reports suggested widespread participation, while others indicated it was less common. The researchers behind this new study sought to provide updated, nationally representative data. They aimed to determine how many teens are currently sexting and, more importantly, how frequently these interactions result in victimization.

>“It is important to know the extent of teen sexting, as well as the likelihood of negative experiences when one participates. There is a lot of hyperbole or anecdotes about teen sexting, but not a lot of scientific evidence,” said study author Justin W. Patchin, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center.