Adults try to discourage teens from sexting—sending and receiving sexually explicit or suggestive images via mobile devices. Unfortunately, that has not reduced the prevalence of sexting among adolescents. FAU’s Sameer Hinduja found that 14 percent of youths reported sending and 22 percent receiving sexts in a 2019 survey. 

So Hinduja has suggested some messages adults can share with teens about how to prevent avoidable fallout from sexting.  “This is not about encouraging sexting behaviors,” said Hinduja. “It simply recognizes the reality that young people are sexually curious, and some will experiment with various behaviors with or without informed guidance, and sexting is no exception.”

• Sameer Hinduja