Forensic Implications: Adolescent Sexting and Cyberbullying

Abstract

Adolescence is marked by establishing a sense of identity, core values, a sense of one's relationship to the outside world and heightened peer relationships. In addition, there is also risk taking, impulsivity, self exploration and dramatic increase in sexuality. The dramatic increase in the use of cell phones and the Internet has additional social implications of sexting and cyberbullying. Sexting refers to the practice of sending sexually explicit material including language or images to another person's cell phone. Cyberbullying refers to the use of this technology to socially exclude, threaten, insult or shame another person. Studies of cell phone use in the 21st century report well over 50% of adolescents use them and that text messaging is the communication mode of choice. Studies also show a significant percentage of adolescents send and receive sex messaging, both text and images. This paper will review this expanding literature. Various motivations for sexting will also be reviewed. This new technology presents many dangers for adolescents. The legal implications are extensive and psychiatrists may play an important role in evaluation of some of these adolescents in the legal context. This paper will also make suggestions on future remedies and preventative actions.

Comparing factors related to school-bullying and cyber-bullying

“…However, impulsivity can often be a temporary characteristic of people when engaging for the first time in cyberspace; particularly, young individuals could behave in a careless and impulsive way when they access cyberspace for the first time (Korenis & Billick, 2014).…”

“…Another common finding in the literature is the relationship between impulsivity and SB perpetration (Oluyinka, 2008) and victimisation Farrington, 2011) andCB (Fanti et al, 2012), particularly for males. Explanations differ, some authors (Workman, 2012) suggest that impulsivity is a result of low self-control, and others found it to be a temporary characteristic for the-first-time Internet users and those seeking revenge (Korenis & Billick, 2014). Low self-control is also associated to SB perpetration (Moon & Alarid, 2015), and in a limited sample of children with ADHD victimisation (Unnever & Cornell, Running head: School-bullying and Cyber-bullying 2003).…”

Reframing Risqué/Risky: Queer Temporalities, Teenage Sexting, and Freedom of Expression

“…A greater acknowledgement of the fact that correlation does not necessarily imply causation is of particular importance in light of claims that directly link sexting to the development of mental health issues and suicide [42]. Much of the media attention generated with respect to sexting flows from the incredibly sad but exceedingly rare stories about sexting-related suicides, such as that of Jesse Logan in 2009 in the US and Amanda Todd in 2013 in Canada [43].…”

Sexting: Between Thrill and Fear—How Schools Can Respond

“…Sexting can be an indicator of other behavioral risks, and students who engage in sexting are likely to experience some of the psychosocial problems that are often associated with such behavior. Cases involving sexting could be used to address safe sex or other health issues (Korenis and Billick 2014;Rice et al 2012;Siegle 2010;Temple et al 2012). • When a student reports a sexting incident to a member of the faculty, it is important for someone from the staff (e.g., school counselor, school psychologist, or school nurse) to provide appropriate follow-up care.…”