SPIRTO Self Produced Images Risk Taking Online

SPIRTO
Self Produced Images
Risk Taking Online
Self-produced sexual images:
Context and consequences
A summary of research findings
www.spirto.health.ed.ac.uk
This project is funded under the Safer Internet programme 2009-2013,
a multiannual Community Programme on protecting children
using the Internet and other communication technologies.
1|SPIRTO Context and consequences
INTRODUCTION
The findings presented in this report derive from 20 interviews with young people aged
15-25 years old who, before the age of 18, had sent or posted nude or nearly nude
images. The sample were selected from a total of 51 UK and Swedish interviewees
recruited through the SPIRTO research project.
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The interviews revealed that the 20 young people all used the Internet and their
favourite platforms for socialising and image sharing were Facebook, Twitter and
Snapchat.
The young people expressed the belief that sending images was a common and
expected behaviour. However, acceptability of this practice was influenced by the
gender of the young person and whether they were ‘in a relationship’.
First occasion was usually in early to mid-teens and in the majority of cases the
images were requested by, and sent to, someone they already knew. Some level of
persuasion was often present.
In some cases nude and nearly nude images were sent to people unknown and
often in a context that appeared coercive.
The motivations for sending images included: part of a romantic or sexual
relationship; trusting the other person; getting affirmation for the way they looked;
flirting, being excited and having fun.
The majority knew that there were risks involved and managed these by excluding
their faces in the images, using Skype or a webcam, or blocking people who were
demanding more images.
There were both immediate and on-going consequences for most young people,
including feelings of anxiety and shame that the images may be non-consensually
shared with others, threats about what might happen if more images were not sent,
and sanctions from parents and schools once the behaviour had been discovered.
However for most, their anxieties were not realised.
The advice given to others included: not sending nude or nearly nude images; being
aware that they may be more widely distributed, and only sending to someone who
could be trusted
2|SPIRTO Context and consequences
BACKGROUND
Self-produced sexual images (and sometimes texts) have become an increasing source of
interest and concern by specialist agencies such as law enforcement and educationalists, as
well as the general public. The production of these images is often referred to as sexting
(although seemingly not by many young people themselves). One definition of sexting is
the sending or posting of sexually suggestive images, including nude or semi-nude
photographs, via mobiles or over the Internet. Of interest is the existing knowledge about
young people’s motivations for making and sending self-produced sexual content. Research
findings suggest that sexting conduct can be varied in terms of context, meaning and
intention. For some young people, self-producing images is a means of flirting and teenage
experimentation, or a way of enhancing a sexual relationship. For other young people
however, sexting practices may be a ‘marker of further risk’. Our understanding of sexting
needs to recognise the complexity of sexting behaviour and be able to make a distinction
between consensual and non-consensual creation and distribution of sexual images. This is
necessary if it is going to inform legal, policy and education resources. This research is a
response to the need for recognition of both the multifaceted nature of sexual interactions
and the importance of further unpicking these interactions to determine what sexting
means to young people, their reasons for sexting, the specific contexts in which the activity
occurs, and the consequences that follow on from sexting experiences.
3|SPIRTO Context and consequences
RESEARCH AIMS
This study is part of the Self-Produced Images – Risk Taking Online (SPIRTO) project, which
was funded by the EU Safer Internet Programme and included the University of Edinburgh,
UK; Linköping University, Sweden, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
(CEOP), UK (now part of the National Crime Agency); and Innocence in Danger, Germany.
We selected, from Sweden (SW) and the UK, 20 of 51 interviews with young people
between 15-25 years old who, before the age of 18, had sent or posted images that
included them showing their breasts, genitals or bottoms (or parts of them). The results
were qualitatively analysed using Framework analysis, which involves a systematic
approach of sifting, charting and sorting material according to key issues and themes.
Our research questions were:
• What were the contexts for the production of these
images?
• How were the images, the motivations for producing and
sharing them, and the ways of managing risks described?
• What were the consequences for these young people and
what recommendations did they make to parents and
peers?
4|SPIRTO Context and consequences
FINDINGS
We selected from the full analysis the themes and sub-themes that were of most
relevance to the research questions.
Internet and app
use
Context for image
production
Social networks
Social
expectations
First occasion
Romance /
sexual
relationship
Images:
motivation and
management
Flirtation
Excitement / Fun
Affirmation
Trust
Managing risks
Immediate
Consequences of
image sharing
Ongoing
Advice to others
5|SPIRTO Context and consequences
CONTEXTS FOR SELF-PRODUCING SEXUAL IMAGES
All but two of the young people spontaneously talked about their Internet use and the
‘apps’ that they preferred to use (the most popular being Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat).
They also talked about the amount of time they spent online. Social media were used to
enhance wider social networks and to maintain existing immediate networks and were
likely to be associated with the exchange of images. Some young people also made specific
mention to social media platforms where they could meet people for sexual purposes. All of
the participants talked of the social contexts to sharing photographs, and assumptions
about its frequency and acceptability amongst young people. This included reflections on
the possible motives for sexting and the social reactions to these behaviours.
Internet and
app use
I have my phone on me
constantly and then I use
... smartphone … I have
Instagram, Facebook,
Snapchat and it is ju…oh,
all put out there. (SW)
Social
networks
I write to my friend [name
removed] askin’ if she’s
ready for school…
Facebook… Facebook
message… and em, she’s
Facebooked me back and
then I’d leave to go to
school... (UK)
Social
expectations
I know some of my girl
friends who send photos
in underwear for their
boyfriends. It's okay if you
have a relationship and
trust each other (SW)
It was also evident that the views expressed often differed according to gender. This was
discussed both in relation to the content of the images themselves and with regards to the
labels attached to those who send them. And also with regards to the labels attached to the
gender.
Yes, being a girl is something completely
different than being guy. As a girl, you
should be thin, good looking, talented in
school, being sexy but at the same time
not a whore… The attitude in society is
that you should look a certain way. If
you don’t you are not normal. An
overweight girl who showing herself
online is not ok. (SW)
… you are a whore or
slut if it’s a girl who
does it. If you're a
guy then you are a
player… (SW)
I know people who
talk about other
peoples’ images
and… and… how ugly
she is in the picture,
she is so fat and
stuff…. (SW)
6|SPIRTO Context and consequences
IMAGES: MOTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT
FIRST OCCASION
For the majority of our sample the first time they sent a sext was likely to occur when the
participants were in their early to mid-teens. While there were a variety of contexts, these
often included some form of persuasion to overcome an initial reluctance which for some
participants seemed more like coercion, especially where the person was not known offline.
… I was talking to this boy….
And he like, asked me to send a
picture. I was kind of reluctant
at first to send them but then, I
think, he was… he kind of
egged me on. He was like ‘Oh
go on, just do it’ (UK)
I was just sleeping over at a friend’s. And he um, he said
like, would you mind sending me a picture? ‘Cause the
fact…I was really reluctant to do it at first so I said ‘well
no’. I trust him a lot because I’ve known him so long but
like there’s still that thing that he might show other
people and stuff like that.… but then eventually my
friend, erm this girl, managed to say like she had done it
before and it was fine so she kind of talked me into it
[laughs] (UK)
ROMANCE / SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
Many of the images were requested by, and sent to, someone as part of a romantic or
sexual relationship where image exchange was part of its development. There was also a
suggestion from some participants that this was just part of a normal relationship.
I sent it because we
were in a relationship
for so long… I trusted
him with my life
practically… (UK)
… everyone’s doing it…
It would be strange if
you did not do it with
your guy. (SW)
I started chatting with my
boyfriend and he wanted
pictures. But it felt there was
nothing wrong because I
wanted to be with him. (SW)
FLIRTATION / EXCITEMENT / FUN
For some this was less about a relationship with someone they were close to and more
about the excitement of the moment, flirting with others, or on some occasions, described
simply as fun.
7|SPIRTO Context and consequences
AFFIRMATION
For many of the young people interviewed, particularly females, there was reference to a
feeling that sending pictures was associated with compliments and affirmation about looking
good. This was seen as confidence building. For some this was in the context of helping
manage difficult feelings.
I think it was the fact
that he wanted the
pictures that made me
feel good… (UK)
He was just saying ‘oh you’re
really nice and ‘you’re
beautiful’ and all this stuff - to
make me, like, obviously feel
good about myself. (SW)
So I used these images
to measure how
important I was... (SW)
TRUST
Approximately half of the sample explicitly talked about trust, although in addition to this
there were references to situations that implied trust. Trust was necessary because there
was awareness that the images could be shared with others.
I wasn’t, like, that bothered
because I’ve been talking to
him for so long and it’s like
he’s done the same, it’s like a
switching thing. So I do it, I
trust him completely. (UK)
I did really like her
at the time and
stuff like that and I
know I trusted her
really well. (UK)
I could trust them but I
knew I couldn’t trust
them. I told myself that
I could some of them
anyway. (SW)
MANAGING RISKS
All of the participants talked about the possible risks of sending images and how they tried
to manage this. Management strategies included restricting what went into the images
(particularly the importance of not including faces), using skype or a webcam in order to
limit opportunities for keeping images, and blocking people who demanded sexual pictures.
… like he would always send
first. So then he’d know that if
he showed someone I could
easily always do the same –
which I’m not going to do. (UK)
… but in the beginning I
was very careful. I knew
that you shouldn’t show
your face and stuff like
that…. (SW)
I took some pictures
too, but it felt worse
as if I couldn’t
control them as I
could with a cam
(SW)
8|SPIRTO Context and consequences
CONSEQUENCES OF IMAGE SHARING
IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES
Not all the young people identified immediate consequences to having sent images to
someone else, but when they did this was often described as guilt or worry. For some of the
young people there was a sense of having lost control. Control could also be lost when
others had not seen the images but simply knew about their existence.
...it’s exciting for you to know what you are
getting. Meanwhile, it's like this, one feels
quite flirty and you feel great. Afterwards,
you may feel fine but it still feels a bit like
that’s disgusting. (SW)
The very first time I was worried
because I didn’t want his mates
to see it or for it to get on
Facebook or anything. (UK)
I felt extremely self-conscious
about it and a bit worried like,
about what’s going to happen
after I send it to this person. (UK)
I sent [images] to quite a lot of people. And then, because
there was so many boys that I sent them to, they got sent
around the whole school and then eventually Guidance
found out because, like, everyone was talking about it in
class and stuff. I was pretty upset… (UK)
ONGOING CONSEQUENCES
Nearly all of the young people described on-going issues that resulted from sending their
images. These ranged from worries that they may be shared with others, to the discovery
that an image had been shared and a screen shot taken. For a few young people, sending
images also resulted in threats of what might happen if they did not send more pictures. Or,
in the case of one young person, if they did not agree to meet up face-to-face. For some
young people, especially those who had engaged in lots of sexual behaviour with others,
including adults, there was an enduring sense of anxiety and shame. Where it was known
by others, parents or those in authority, that images had been sent, the consequences were
far reaching and could result in sanctions on their Internet use.
… he said ‘You do know that there’s a
picture, I screenshotted it’. It was blurry,
but it was enough to see what it was… I
just felt really like, like I was so raging, I
was absolutely shocked as well. (UK)
… at night, I get panic when I think about
it. Then it feels like there is no point to
live, I can’t control it, it stresses me, but I
try to ignore it. (SW)
… they sort of spreaded it around the school so like,
a lot of kids they don’t talk to me at all because
they see… they’ve heard the stories so they just see
me as someone not to talk to… This guy, this friend,
he got pictures. He seemed really nice and he lives
in X as well and he got pictures and he was like ‘if
you don’t meet me…’ and I didn’t want to meet
anyone and he said ‘If you don’t meet me then I’m
going away to show people these pictures’ and that
really terrified me because I was starting to move
on with my life. (UK)
9|SPIRTO Context and consequences
ADVICE TO OTHERS
Our respondents were very keen to give advice to other young people. Where image
sharing had happened on a frequent basis or involved different people, some of whom
were not known offline, the advice was generally not to start sending images in the first
place.
There was also a reminder that once images have been sent there is a loss of control over
any consequences. In particular, some young people were concerned about the wider
sharing of their images.
However the most frequent advice given was that images should only be shared with
someone who could be trusted, and probably only in the context of a relationship.
Some of the advice was very pragmatic, acknowledging that it is easy to send images and
implying that young people should not be blamed, but rather should think before they
send, or to be careful not to identify themselves:
Oh if I could stop like, every person from
doing it then I would stop them because
… It’s like an addiction once you get…
once you first do it and you get that like
burst of happiness from that then you
just want to keep on doing it. (UK)
Just get to know the person first, don’t
send them if… you don’t know them. Make
sure you’ve got a bond… with the person.
Don’t just go sending it to anybody cause
who, God knows, who’ll see your picture…
or where it’ll go. (UK)
If you cannot say no, you should not do
that because then you’re just into it
more and more and it gets even harder
to say no as time goes on. (SW)
... I think like, people need to realise
that you should, you should have more
respect for their self and like, it’s not
going to make you, it might make you
feel good getting like compliments and
feedback on your body… but, you need
to live with that, people, anybody could
have the pictures, anybody at all, they
could be like, like slavering over you
[laughs] (UK)
10 | S P I R T O C o n t e x t a n d c o n s e q u e n c e s
CONCLUSION
The twenty young people in this study had all sent nude or nearly nude images of
themselves to other people and in the majority of cases this was in the context of an
adolescent relationship with someone whom they felt they could trust.
However, most participants described some level of persuasion the first time that images
were sent and for the minority this seemed to be very coercive. Very often this took the
form of flattery, although the social context for this was a general acceptance that
‘everyone was doing it’.
The contexts varied between individuals and some of them appeared to be countryspecific, but this may have been a function of how some of those participating were
recruited.
All appeared to be aware of the risks involved in sending images, although circumstances
at the time (which included sexual arousal) may have led to the discounting of risk. In the
main, risk was actively managed by excluding identifying features (such as faces) from the
images sent, or using webcams rather than mobile phones.
Negative consequences were more likely to happen when the young person was
communicating with people not known off-line, but this was not universally so. The
majority of young people experienced some transient feelings of anxiety after sending
images and nearly all described ongoing issues. These ranged from occasional worries
about the possibility of the images being shared through to feelings of despair over what
had happened.
However, there was marked ambivalence expressed about how they described their own
experiences, and it would be inappropriate to ignore aspects that were often expressed
more positively. The findings from this study are in line with previous research and add to
our understanding of the complex meanings and consequences of this behaviour.
11 | S P I R T O C o n t e x t a n d c o n s e q u e n c e s
Contact us
[email protected]
@spirtoproject