Sexting & Image-Based Sexual Abuse among Adolescents: A Critical Analysis of Literature

• In Event: Poster Session II

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse and sexting are becoming more common as smart phones and social media continue to be a reality of day to day activity. Research has begun to address the technological changes and implications that the internet, social media, and cell-phones have on the sexual activity of adolescents, including sexual abuse that occurs on these platforms. The effects of sexting and image based sexual abuse on adolescents are potentially as harmful as sexual assault, and can cause depression and anxiety among victims. Furthermore, the increased amount of pornography consumption among adolescents suggest that sexting and image based sexual abuse have taken a formally healthy and normal behavior and turned it into a detrimental phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the research that has been conducted thus far examining sexting and image-based sexual abuse of adolescents. Additionally, recommendations for future research will be provided based on the findings of the literature review presented in this paper.

Author

• Jacqueline Rose Zugschwert, West Virginia University