Teen Sexting Really Does Mean Teen Sex

For all the parental and media hand-wringing, sexting remains a poorly studied phenomenon. But according to new peer-reviewed research, that concern might not be unfounded. Teen texts are indeed ablaze with sexual content – but how does technology-based sexual activity intersect with actual behavior?

Teens are sending more text messages than ever before. In July 2011, 63% of U.S. teens were texting on a daily basis, and almost one out of three teens between the ages of 12 and 17 were tapping out 60 texts per day. Beyond wreaking havoc on any parent’s family phone plan, the content of those texts is a reflection of teen habits – at least when it comes to sex.

Sexting, defined as “the practice of electronically sending sexually explicit images or messages from one person to another,” is the back channel of choice for members of Generation Z expressing their sexuality.