Why do teens send each other sexually explicit text messages? What does this mean to them?

Question

My friends have caught their kids doing it, some as young as 13. I'm pretty sure my own have done it. And this is not just with their boyfriends or girlfriends, it's with kids they may only be casually acquainted with. I don't understand it. They know about the dangers and risks. They know it may be illegal.

I'm not looking for a list of reasons why it's bad. I just want to know what this "sexting" MEANS to them, if you follow my drift. Do they think of this as a form of having s*x? Is it flirting? A signal that they're interested in s*x with the recipient of the message? Is it a joke, a form of entertainment, something to do when they're bored? Do most teens do it?

I'm asking because my generation didn't have this form of anonymous (for lack of a better term) communication and I'm curious how this fits into teens' relationships. I'd especially like to hear from teens. Thanks.

Answer 1

Heyy! Well im a teen and i hope i answer you question to the best of knowlegde. Alright well to answer you questions flat out. This is not a forn of having s*x. Sometimes it can be flirting. This is not a signal of they are interested in s*x. Sometimes and most of the time it is a joke or entertainment. And yes most teens do it. Explaination;

This is not a form of s*x, usualy it is used as a joke, or to explain something , but usually making people laugh. this doesnt mean they want to have real s*x either

Answer 2

yah i guess itss just like "we dont know how to express our feelings for him/her."  not realy with me but thats the best i can think of

most times its not totaly serious. dont read into it that much lol

texting in relationships is huge! me and whoevers my boyfriend at the time text 247! we always have so much to talk about. but the downside is, when we're actually together we have nothing new to talk about cuz we already texted it to eachother lol

Answer 3

I think that they do it because they want to flirt and are interested in s*x but wouldn't want to do it or are unable to do it at that time.

I also think some are too young to do it and i think do it with people they shouldn't be but if i thought they were doing it then i would take they're phone off them.

I did it a few times when i was 16 and with my first boyfriend, the guy i really loved. I think we did it because i was curious about s*x and both still virgins and wanted to talk about it but not do it after that point. I think after i lost my virginity to him we did it a few more times and then stopped because we would talk about s*x in person or have s*x instead and there was no need for the texting.

I have since split with him and am with a guy i have been with 8 months at the moment and i've never had s*x text with him. I think because we're both not virgins anymore there is no mystery to s*x and no need to send these text messages. We talk in person instead.

Answer 4

It's funny and entertaining.

My best friend and I did it for hours one day when we were in the same car. We were cracking up and her mom was all like "What's so funny?"

Hahaa.

It doesn'tmean I'm flirting with her or wanting to have s*x with her. It's just funny :P

Answer 5

Because there is no decency or shame left in this country and these statistics in the making have parents who are too busy or don't care enough to supervise them.

hand them a phone, they'll shut up, who cares what they do

Answer 6

its just us jokeing around

when were bored..

it doesnt mean we like want to have s*x with them or anythingg,

its just amusingg,

Answer 7

Its just something that like almost every teen does.  It doesn't mean there actually doing all of this stuff. Ive talked like that to some of my guy friends and we didn't do anything.  It's definately normal.  

Answer 8

There really is nothing wrong with it at least there not actually doing it.

Answer 9

i do it and im 16. it's because of boredom and just exploring. would you rather them s*x text or go out and have s*x? think of it that way.

Answer 10

well thats what u get for haivng kids so old now u dont know what the heck is going on in their lives just ask ur kids how r u gonna know

Answer 11

it is kind of like masturbation it is better than actually doing it.  if they are doing it then they need to be talke d to

Answer 12

Because s*x is a new and exciting thing to them... they are becoming sexually aware and have new technologies they can use to "talk" about this sexual awakening.

Not to say it's not dangerous or going over-board (which perhaps it is), but I do see it as being similar to things our generation experienced as well.  I still recall when my best friends little sister learned about a guys "wiener".  For over a month, she couldn't look at a hot-dog (Oscar-Myer wieners) without making a comment and laughing about it.

Answer 13

They could just be doing it because they are in "the mood". I guess its like cyber s*x on the computer or phone s*x.  

Answer 14

idunno.

its just fun to do.

ive done it haha.

its better than actually doing it.

Answer 15

It depends.

my friend was going out with this boy, and he would alwayz text her- "when are we gonna ****? when are u gonna give me head?" and at first she thought he was kidding, but he wasnt, so she broke up with him.

but i mean if ur just texting maybe with a friend thats a guy, and he says something that could have  like a double meaning like that it sounds wrong, so the u crack a joke, but it doesnt mean anything.

but sometimes it is talking about what they want to eventually do with each other- sometimes ppl are hoking, other times ppl arent.

like i said it depends, but yea i would say most teens have sent texts with like a sexual meaning, even if it was just joking around.