From Private to Public: Analyzing the Dynamics of Non-Consensual Sexts in the Digital Age

Background/Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to explore the gender dynamics, feelings, harm, and responses to the non-consensual sharing of sexts. We define consensual sexting as the consensual sending of sexually explicit photos and videos and non-consensual sharing as the sharing of those photos or videos to a third party without the consent of the sext’s subject(s). In contrast to a deviancy discourse to youth sexting, which has dominated the literature, , a normalcy approach suggests that involvement with sexts is aligned with adolescent sexual development and treats non-consensual sharing as a problematic and deviant behaviour distinct from the consensual sending and receiving of sexts.

Methods: Exploratory surveys were administered to a Canadian sample of adolescents who either experienced (n=74) or engaged in (n=40) the non-consensual dissemination of sexts. The survey, developed by the researchers, included demographic questions and questions on six common sexting experiences. The experiences include participants having their sext shared without consent and sharing another’s sext without their consent. Contextual questions were asked related to the feelings and harms experienced and whether participants reported the incident to anyone. In addition to frequency and demographic results, chi-square tests for independence were conducted to investigate the relationship between gender and experiencing and engaging in non-consensual sharing of sexts. Surveys were administered between May and August 2023 by an independent survey company.

Results: Findings reveal that of those in the experienced sample, a majority had negative feelings as a result of their image being sent without their consent. Emotional harm was the most common harm reported, which included such responses as shame, harassment, and humiliation. Most respondents told someone outside of school about this experience, which a higher proportion of female respondents reported as helpful. In the engaged sample, there was a statistically significant relationship between non-consensually sharing of sexts and gender (male) A higher proportion of males felt positive feelings as a result, with a higher proportion of males than females experiencing no harm from this behaviour. Demographic characteristics indicate that White, heterosexual males in their late teens are both experiencing and engaging in non-consensual dissemination of sexts at a higher proportion than females.

Conclusions: The research highlights the gendered perception of non-consensual sext sharing. Despite being at risk, males often receive social rewards rather than facing privacy or consent concerns. This double standard echoes patriarchal norms and reinforces heteronormative and traditional gender constructs during socialization, leading to a culture in which males may feel compelled to remain silent about such violations. A normalcy approach can identify the ways in which non-consensual sexting is a form of online sexual harassment. Social work practitioners can help youth, parents, and other adults respond to these harmful behaviors. Informed by an ecological systems approach, it is important to understand dominant norms and trends and recognize the influence of contextual factors, such as consent, gender, and social pressure, on adolescents’ sexting experiences. Youth need help to situate their experiences of sexting within broader societal inequities and to challenge such biases.