This was based on a small piece of research conducted by Professor Andy Phippen.

Actually sexting is not the norm amongst teens in the UK. According to the EU Kids Online project (interviewing 25000 young people across EU)

“12% of 11-16 year old internet users have received sexual messages, although 4% have sent them. In the UK, ‘sexting’ appears a little less common than across Europe. 7% of UK 11-16 year olds have been sent a sexual message, and 5% have seen a sexual message posted online. Only 3% have seen others perform sexual acts in a message and 2% had been asked to talk about sexual acts with someone online. (my emphasis)…. 19% of UK children who have received sexual messages online have been bothered or upset by the experience.” EU Kids Online UK Report

This is backed up by another robust US study which suggests the numbers are between 1% and 7%  depending on the definition of a ‘sext’. http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV237.pdf (pdf)

Professor Andy Phippen’s research was not to measure prevalence but to ask young people’s thoughts about it in focus groups (not randomised groups, no individual interviews, in 8 schools).

They talked about how they have heard about instances in their school and that they are aware it happens (but not with any of their friends), but they certainly didn’t say it was the norm. The researcher was misleading in his quote to the media.

For a really interesting use of focus groups of young people and practitioners check this from Australia http://jmrc.arts.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Young_People_And_Sexting_Final.pdf

This study for the NSPCC (although very small scale) illustrates how harassment happens on and offlinehttp://www.academia.edu/1572078/A_qualitative_study_of_children_young_people_and_sexting_A_report_prepared_for_the_NSPCC

For more about sexting for young people http://bishuk.com/2011/02/15/sexting/

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Sexting does happen with young people, but it is only with a small minority. Some writers and media and researchers would have you believe that it’s the norm – it isn’t.

But in any case CEOP have created some well made content for young people around this issue over at Thinkuknow

I’ve also created a handout based on my post for young people here

Click on this image below and it should open up as an A4 size image. Save the image (right click, save as) and print out. Yes another free resource from me. If you like it, maybe think about spending some of your dwindling budgets on some resources, training or teaching above? Thanks!

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