Digital Sexuality and the Adolescent Experience

• In Event: Recovery: Substance Use, Sex Addiction, and Digital Sexuality

Abstract

Background: In the digital age, technology presents both opportunities and challenges for adolescents, including the increasing prevalence of sexting—the exchange of sexually explicit images, videos, and messages. While sexting is widely practiced, mainstream media narratives, legal concerns, and responses from parents, educators, and policymakers have framed it as a moral and legal crisis. Consequently, North American research has largely adopted a "deviancy" framework, associating sexting with risky adolescent behaviours. In contrast, European studies have introduced a "normalcy" perspective, recognizing sexting as a common form of sexual expression. Despite growing discussions on adolescent digital intimacy, North American discourse remains risk-focused. Methods: This study draws on qualitative interviews with 24 first-year university students in Ontario, Canada, using reflexive thematic analysis to explore their sexting experiences. Results: Findings highlight the fluid definition of sexting, including text-based messages, the significance of relational context, and the evolving digital landscape facilitating these interactions. Participants also described various motivations for engaging in sexting, ranging from intimacy and self-expression to external pressures. Conclusion: By situating sexting within contemporary adolescent experiences and sexual development, this study informs researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and legal frameworks, offering a more nuanced understanding of victimization, agency, and consent in digital sexual interactions.

Authors

• Faye Mishna, University of Toronto

• Shannon Brown, University of Toronto

• Mona Khoury-Kassabri, The Hebrew University

• Lana Jeries, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

• Samar Zuberi, University of Toronto