The concept of ‘sexting’ happens when someone sends a sexual suggestive text to another, it could be a mere written message, or a photo attached to a message. It’s an act of sending sexual explicit materials through mobile phones.
As Tanzania passes the 2015 Internet Act which is meant to put strict measures on the use of the internet, giving heavy penalties to anyone who uses the internet contrary to the law, the issue of teens ‘sexting’ through different social media platforms is under heavy fire.
The concept of ‘sexting’ happens when someone sends a sexual suggestive text to another, it could be a mere written message, or a photo attached to a message. It’s an act of sending sexual explicit materials through mobile phones.
This trend has grown rapidly in Tanzania and we’ve seen youth, especially young girls get embarrassed online as a result of circulated leaked nude photos.
Teenage girls have a few reasons for why they participate in sexting, reasons are highly similar globally: a research done in the US showed that 40 per cent do it as a joke, 34 per cent do it to feel sexy, and 12 per cent feel pressured to do it.
With availability of multiple gadgets that enable one to view things online, you might ask yourself; who will see your sext? 17 per cent of sexters share the messages they receive with others, and 55 per cent of those share them with more than one person.
That’s why the issue of leaked nude videos or photos has become quite common. In that research conducted in the US, it was revealed that while nearly 70 per cent of teen boys and girls who sext do so with their girlfriend or boyfriend, 61 per cent of all sexters who have sent nude images admit that they were pressured to do it at least once.
Nearly 40 per cent of all teenagers have posted or sent sexual suggestive messages, but this practice is more common among boys than girls.
Boys usually like to make fun of vulnerable girls, and in most cases, it’s been said that boys are the ones who leak nude photos of girls.
The existence of social media platforms such as Facebook, SnapChat and others has created an arena where young girls can easily send nude photos.
And easy interaction afforded in these platforms has made it easier for them to communicate and in the long run trust someone they haven’t even met.
The research in the US showed that teens that have sent or posted nude/semi-nude images of themselves send these messages to people they have never met, but know them from the Internet.
Sending or receiving a sexual suggestive text or image under the age of 18 is considered child pornography and can result in criminal charges.
The new Act that regulates internet usage will in a way shield the dignity of young girls who get exploited online.
High-school and university students are the ones that commonly use sexting as a form of communication.
This is due to high internet connection which affords them the means to effectively send and receive any information through different gadgets.
