Non-consensual sexting: characteristics and motives of youths who share received-intimate content without consent

Background One of the possible negative consequences of sexting is the non-consensual sharing of received-intimate content. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and motives of youths who shared received-intimate images without consent. Methods: Data were obtained from a self-administrated Swiss survey on sexual behaviours among young adults (aged 24–26 years). Out of the 7142 participants, 5175 responded to the question ‘Have you ever shared (forwarding or showing) a sexy photograph/video of someone else (known or unknown) without consent’?; 85% had never shared (Never), 6% had shared once (Once) and 9% had shared several times (Several). Data are presented as relative risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Participants who had shared received-intimate content without consent had higher odds of being male [2.73 (2.14–3.47)], foreign-born [1.45 (1.04–2.03)], reporting a non-heterosexual orientation [1.46 (1.10–1.93)], having sent one’s own intimate image [1.76 (1.32–2.34)] and receiving a shared-intimate image of someone unknown [4.56 (3.28–6.36)] or known [2.76 (1.52–5.01)] compared with participants who had never shared. The main reported motivations were for fun (62%), showing off (30%) and failure to realise what they were doing (9%). Conclusions: Given the reported motivations, it appears crucial to remind youths of the seriousness of non-consensual sharing. Although females may also be perpetrators, the behaviour was more prevalent among males. Prevention and education need to consider a broad range of young people in their scenarios. Even if a particular focus on understanding and preventing males’ perpetration must be considered, overall perpetration, including female’s, must be discussed.

Out of the 7142 participants, 5175 responded to the question Have you ever shared (forwarding or showing) a sexy photograph/video of someone else (known or unknown) without consent?: 85% had never shared (Never), 6% had shared once (Once) and 9% had shared several times (Several). Data are presented as relative risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Participants who had shared received-intimate content without consent had higher odds of being male (2.73 [2.14-3.47]), foreign-born (1.45 [1.04-2.03]), reporting a non-heterosexual orientation (1.46 [1.10-1.93]), having sent one’s own intimate image (1.76 [1.32-2.34]) and receiving a shared-intimate image of someone unknown (4.56 [3.28-6.36]) or known (2.76 [1.52-5.01]) compared to participants who had never shared. The main reported motivations were for fun (62%), showing off (30%) and failure to realize what they were doing (9%).