The unintended consequences of digital technology: exploring the relationship between sexting and cybervictimization

Abstract

Progress in cyber technology has created innovative ways for individuals to communicate with each other. Sophisticated cell phones, often with integrated cameras, have made it possible for users to instantly send photos, videos, and other materials back and forth to each other regardless of their physical separation. This same technology also makes sexting possible – sending nude or semi-nude images, often of oneself, to others electronically (e.g., by text message, email). Few studies examining sexting have been published, and most have focused on the legal issues associated with juvenile sexting. In general, lacking are empirical analyses of the prevalence of sexting, and its potential consequences (i.e., victimization) that are theoretically grounded. Accordingly, we explored the possible link between sexting and online personal victimization (i.e., cybervictimization) among a sample of college students. As hypothesized, respondents who engaged in sexting were more likely to not only experience cybervictimization, but also to be victimized by different types of cybervictimization.

Keywords:

• sexting
• college students
• victimization
• cybervictimization
• lifestyles

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the three anonymous reviewers, particularly Reviewer 2, for their helpful suggestions during the review process. Addressing their comments improved the quality of our article.

Notes

1. This study was administered by a company called TRU, and although this is a national-level study and the results were weighted according to US Census estimates to reflect the demographic composition of teens and young adults, the sample was not a probability sample, and therefore the generalizability of the results is somewhat unclear. Further, the sample was drawn from TRU’s pool of individuals who had volunteered to participate in online surveys, and thus is biased to some extent.

2. A search of academic databases (e.g., Academic Search Complete, Lexis Nexis Academic) using the keywords ‘sexting’ and ‘sext’ did not yield any results from peer-reviewed journals.

3. Respondents were asked about repeated contacts to eliminate the reporting of isolated incidents or encounters that may not constitute harassing behaviors.

4. Respondents considered the most appropriate response to the following four statements: ‘I consider myself to be a risk taker,’ ‘I consider myself to be argumentative,’ ‘I often confront people when they make me upset,’ and ‘I have trouble controlling my temper.’ Respondents rated their agreement with these statements on a scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (4).

5. Point biserial correlation coefficients are appropriate for examining bivariate relationships in which one of the variables is nominal and the other variable is continuous. Phi is used as a bivariate measure of association in cases where both of the variables are nominal. In both cases, the interpretation of the direction and strength of the relationship is the same as the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (Pearson's r).