Sexting – sending and exchanging erotic photos via cell phone – is already commonplace for many young people. We explain why sexting is never completely “safe” and how you can still protect yourself.

Sexting – sending and exchanging erotic photos via cell phone – is already commonplace for many young people
Sexting can have very unpleasant consequences if intimate photos are distributed without permission and end up on the Internet. (c) Per Juventute_flickr.com

Sexting – what is it?

The term “sexting” is a combination of “sex” and “texting” (English for sending SMS) and refers to the exchange and distribution of erotic photos and videos via cell phone. Revealing recordings can created in seconds and distributed via social networks or messengers with just a few clicks. Sexting is particularly popular among young people : from the age of around 15, erotic snapshots are almost part of everyday life a token of love for your partner a recent study from Australia, more than half of all 16 to 19-year-old students have received a clear sexting message, and a quarter have “sexted” themselves.


Why is sexting so popular among teenagers?

Experimenting with your own sexuality as well as the desire for exchange and comparison with your peers are part of growing up. According to a Belgian study, sexting is a technology-supported form of flirting for young people. The circle of friends plays an important role in sexting: If sexting is considered “cool” there and pressure is applied , most young people often find it difficult to say “no”. . Other reasons for sexting include seeking attention, establishing contact with potential partners or establishing intimacy in a (long-distance) relationship.

Consensual sexting among young people, like consensual sex, should therefore be recognized as a normal part of growing up and not taboo. Sexting only becomes problematic when revealing images are non-consensually forwarded to third parties or intimate content is published on the Internet. It is important to create awareness of possible risks in advance and to identify strategies to avoid these dangers.


Why is sexting not “safe”?

In many cases, sexting among young people is completely unproblematic . However, sexting can have very unpleasant and lengthy consequences for everyone involved if revealing photos or films end up (publicly) on the Internet. When relationships or friendships break down, intimate content is often spread unasked on social networks or messenger apps out of revenge, disappointment or envy Those depicted then have virtually no control over who sees them. Getting nude photos or other sexually oriented content off the internet is very difficult and often impossible. Massive cyberbullying can also occur if intimate content is circulated on the Internet. Sometimes ex-partners also use sexting from “happier times” for blackmail : for example, they threaten to publish old nude photos if no new ones are sent.

Attention: Even photo applications like Snapchat , which automatically delete sent content after receipt, do not make sexting safer ! Special apps can also screenshots of photos or messages , which can then be saved and distributed indefinitely.


Distributing nude photos can be a criminal offense!

What most young people also don't know: Erotic photos of minors are considered child pornography and are therefore illegal ( § 207a StGB - Pornographic representations of minors ). Publication and distribution may legal consequences .


Sexting: Tips for Protecting Privacy

Sexting involves many risks and should therefore not be undertaken carelessly . There is no real ! We have nevertheless put together a few tips on how you can best protect your privacy when sending nude pictures or other erotic content:

  • Choose the recipient carefully. Probably the most important tip: Erotic photos should only be sent if there is a corresponding level of trust with the recipient.
  • Don't show your face. It is best to take erotic pictures in such a way that you cannot be clearly recognized in the photo. Either you leave the head or face out of the picture completely or you only show the back of the head. Image editing apps also offer the opportunity to artistically “alienate” faces with mustaches, false make-up or eyelashes.
  • Less is not always more. A photo can appear erotic even if not all intimate parts of the body are shown completely uncovered. For example, the arms or items of clothing can be draped in front of the body so that not everything is visible - the rest is left to the imagination or in the privacy of the person depicted.
  • Avoid excessive sexting. If you only send intimate pictures to your loved one on special occasions, they may have a greater impact than if you constantly sext. The bonus: there are fewer sensitive images in circulation.
  • Delete “evidence”. Nude photos in particular should be deleted from your cell phone regularly - ideally together with your partner. This protects you from prying eyes if the smartphone is left unattended, stolen or lost.
  • Remove photo metadata. Especially when taken with a cell phone, photos contain a lot of information that is not visible at first glance (meta or Exif data).
    Even if the person in the picture cannot be recognized, this data can potentially be used to trace who took the photo. Therefore, for security reasons, this sensitive information should be deleted before the image is sent or posted online. Here's how it works: Windows: Right-click on the image > Properties > select the "Details" tab > click on "Remove properties and personal information" at the bottom
    Mac: Unfortunately, the metadata can only be removed here with special tools such as ImageOptim .
    Directly on the smartphone: Numerous free apps for removing metadata are available in the respective app stores for both iOS and Android.
  • If so, just save it safely. If intimate photos are to be saved, it is best to only store them on an external hard drive or a USB stick - and not on the Internet or in cloud storage services such as iCloud, Dropbox & Co. , as the data is never 100 percent secure.
  • Pay attention to synchronized devices. You should definitely be careful if the recipient uses several mobile devices that are synchronized with each other (e.g. a smartphone and a tablet). It could then happen that sexting sent via messenger to the cell phone is also displayed on the tablet at the same time - and it is currently being used by another family member.

Many thanks to our cooperation partner Saferinternet for this article.

Saferinternet.at primarily supports children, young people, parents and teachers in using digital media safely, competently and responsibly.

The initiative is being implemented on behalf of the European Commission as part of the Safer Internet program.

Saferinternet.at forms the “Safer Internet Center Austria” together with the Stopline (reporting center against child pornography and National Socialist re-activity) and 147 Rat auf Draht (telephone help for children, young people and their caregivers). It is the Austrian partner in the EU's Safer Internet Network (Insafe).

Saferinternet on the web: http://www.saferinternet.at/
Saferinternet on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saferinternetat


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )