[ufo2012]

According to this report:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ults-date.html

The now common practice of sending sexually explicit photos or messages through phones is not associated with sexually risky behaviour of psychological problems, researchers have found.

The findings contradict the public perception of sexting, which is often regarded as unsavoury, deviant or even criminal behaviour.
University of Michigan researchers looked at the sexting behavior of 3,447 men and women ages 18-24 in the first study to connect sexting with a behavioural outcome.

The participants who sexted did not report riskier sexual behavior than those who didn't. Nor did they report more depression, anxiety or low self-esteem, said study co-author Jose Bauermeister.

The negative perception of sexting is mostly drawn from stories involving pre-teens and teenagers, but the University of Michigan study group was considerably older, said co-author Debbie Gordon-Messer.

So apparently sexting is all good.

Thoughts?

[tamimi]

Daily mail does not produce "reports", it produces mumbo jumbo constructed using English ish vocabulary.

[megan.c]

Sexting may be mentally safe... but it's hardly secure if you have a bad break up with someone with pictures of you naked, or if their friends fancy a browse through their phone ¬_¬

[snailsareslimy]

Who cares?

[VQG]

What about STDs? (Sexually Texted Diseases)

[Cephalus]

(Original post by tamimi)
Daily mail does not produce "reports", it produces mumbo jumbo constructed using English ish vocabulary.

Allow it. Come on the DM has done the research

[Darth Stewie]

The Daily Mail's science section?

[tamimi]

(Original post by Cephalus)
Allow it. Come on the DM has done the research

I have nothing against the topic itself - I just lack respect for the DF

[willbee]

Sure it's safe. Until you fall out with whoever it is you've done it with, or they just get bored or decide to forward your texts to their mates.

I think it's stupid. I think it's unwise and indiscreet and I think you're just asking for someone to come and air your dirty laundry. I know a girl whose name is now associated with a near-pornographic picture of herself which she sent to her boyfriend and he uploaded to the net after they broke up. I personally wouldn't do it. But I guess it's your choice and sexting gets some people proper off.

[ufo2012]

(Original post by tamimi)
I have nothing against the topic itself - I just lack respect for the DF

Technically the DM didn't conduct the study, they just reported it.

Study was by University of Michigan researchers.

[justanotherposter]

I was unaware the public perception of setting was that it is 'regarded as unsavoury, deviant or even criminal behaviour.' Seems like a non story to me. Anyway it's not safe, I've seen guys show their mates sexts their girlfriend sent them, and thats while their still together! Think what people could do with the pictures after a bad break up, you've basically given someone an easy revenge plan if you sext.

[Cephalus]

(Original post by tamimi)
I have nothing against the topic itself - I just lack respect for the DF

How astute. So everybody calls it the Daily Fail, which automatically invalidates every single article it writes?

[Xotol]

I love how they managed to incorporate sophisticated research from a reputable university with two pictures of barely dressed sexy women.

Anyway, the research only seems to take into account behaviour in the relationship, including risky sex, self-esteem and depression. What it doesn't seem to account for is what could happen after a relationship, which I imagine is where the majority of problems with sexting come from if there is a rough break-up.

[desdemonata]

Sexting is deviant behaviour now? Hm.

"The negative perception of sexting is mostly drawn from stories involving pre-teens and teenagers"

Because some young people are stupid and never considered the possibility of what could happen to nudey photos of themselves. But there are plenty of cases of sexted photos staying private and between the intended parties only... you know, the ones you never hear about.

Edit: my thoughts were that sexting was all good for me before I read this, as long as people actually understand what they're doing and possible consequences.

[justanotherposter]

(Original post by Cephalus)
How astute. So everybody calls it the Daily Fail, which automatically invalidates every single article it writes?

I see what you're saying but if a significant proportion of the publication seems to be biased then you will naturally be suspicious of the rest of the articles. I don't know if you are following the American election but Romney has released an ad that is blatant propaganda, he has taken an Obama quote out of context to make it appear like Obama hates businesses, Fox news went as far as actually showing the start of the quote, cutting out the middle, and showing the end of the quote to give it a completely different meaning to what Obama actually said, this has actually be called out on by numerous politicians but the Romney campaign continues to use it as one of its main attacks on Obama, going as far as to show the out of context quote to members of the public, filming their outrage to something Obama never said and then using that as flimsy evidence Obama is not wanted by the population. Now if Fox news and the Romney campaign are able to manipulate quotes to make them say what they want to say, why should I listen to anything else they say, when everything they have to say could be as equally doctored?

[Snagprophet]

Oh dear. Why does the Daily Mail keep doing stories about things which are 'hip' and 'trendy' with the kids? Stop making articles about texting. Stop making articles about video games. Piss off.

[Kiss]

(Original post by VQG)
What about STDs? (Sexually Texted Diseases)

Ahhhh hohohohoho!!!!!!!!!!

[Scootaloo]

(Original post by Cephalus)
How astute. So everybody calls it the Daily Fail, which automatically invalidates every single article it writes?

I agree to invalidate something because of its past is bad but it should teach you to be weary of whatever the DM harps on about, for example:

Diabetes could 'bankrupt' the NHS in 20 years yet most spending is avoidable, say experts

And the response of NHS Behind the Headlines(really useful website), which provides the infomation's source and type of research conducted:

The newspaper headlines that suggest the costs of diabetes treatment will ‘bankrupt’ the NHS are misleading as this is not likely to happen. The study did not look at the wider spending of the NHS in detail. However, it is clear that diabetes is a major condition in the UK, and there is a need to examine the financial, personal and societal impacts of the condition to prevent people being needlessly affected by it and its complications.

Anyway young people (under 18s) should be wary sexting to each other because possession of those pictures counts as child pornography and those in possession can be prosecuted under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, Protection of Children Act 1978 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988.(http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_16/control/sexting/). It's already lead to some frisky teens getting child pornography charges against them for recieve and sending images in America, although it's yet to happen in our country...

I'd hate to think after a real messy break up my pictures would end up on some my ex girlfriend website.

[PerArduaAdAstra]

It's still criminal behaviour if (in britain at least) the participants are under 16. Tbh I never understand why anyone would trust someone else with pictures like that. Why even take them in the first place?

[yomomalomo]

There was actually a study done on sexting?

Surely it is deserving of an (ig)Nobel prize!

People have been taking/drawing/painting naked pictures of people and showing other people since the dawn of Man, the only difference with sexting is the use of technology to transmit it.