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Shutterstock/Artit Thongchuea

13% of secondary school students have sent a nude or semi-nude video of themselves

Males are more likely than females to engage in sexting, a new survey has found.

13% OF SECONDARY school students have sent a nude or semi-nude photo of themselves, according to new research.

Zeeko, headquartered at NovaUCD, announced the results of its Secondary School Digital Trend Report today, which included questions about sexting.

The study surveyed 3,231 secondary school pupils – 1,408 females and 1,823 males from 30 schools.

Sexts range from suggestive messages to images and videos. Other sexting results from the survey include:

  • 7% have sent a nude/semi-nude photo/video of themselves to someone they met online
  • 15% have shared or showed a friend a nude/semi-nude photo/video that was sent by someone else
  • 14% sexted someone who is not their partner
  • Males are more likely than females to engage in all sexting behaviours measured: 17% of males sent a nude/semi-nude photo/video of themselves, compared to 9% of females
  • 18% of males and 8% of females sexted a non-partner
  • 10% of males sexted someone they first met online, compared to 4% of females

The survey found that all sexting behaviours measured increase throughout each year of secondary school:

  • 4% of first years sent a sext image, compared to 34% of sixth years
  • 3% of first years sexted someone they first met online, compared to 15% of sixth years
  • 4% of first years sexted a non-partner, compared to 34% of sixth years
  • 6% of first years shared a sext they had received vs 27% of sixth years

Dr Marina Everri, a social psychologist from the London School of Economics and Political Science and Head of Research at Zeeko, said the survey’s findings should not be considered “alarming”.

“Adolescence is a crucial phase in defining gender identity and sexual orientation. Adolescents explore sexuality, they are eager to meet peers and partners and establish romantic relationships.

“Texting, sharing videos and photos, encounters with strangers and looking for strangers online to meet offline respond to adolescents’ need to expand their social network outside of their families.

“However, there is a need for education programmes that teach adolescents how to critically assess the content and potential risks associated with sexting.”

Social media 

Smartphone is the main device used to access the internet by adolescents, the research found. In secondary schools more than 90% of young people have a smartphone and many use it almost constantly.

The survey found that the most popular social media platform is Snapchat, with 69% of respondents using it, followed by Instagram (42%), YouTube (38%) and Facebook (34%).

Social media is more popular among females, with 85% preferring Snapchat compared to 57% of males, while 63% chose Instagram compared to 25% of males. Males prefer games over social media, with 62% going online using a games console compared to 14% of females.

Cyberbullying 

Some 20% of students said they have been the victims of cyberbullying – similar to  national and international levels.

Around 40% of children said they have witnessed cyberbullying.

Some 83% of first years surveyed said cyberbullying was a very serious issue, compared to 71% of sixth years.

Read: Heritage Department has ‘no intention’ of investigating mysterious Loughcrew ‘find’

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65 Comments
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    Mute Michael Campbell
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    Sep 25th 2011, 1:30 PM

    Horrible sport and then when they have drawn blood and tortured the poor creature they go to mass Sick

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    Mute Rachael M
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    Sep 25th 2011, 1:57 PM

    Good riddance to it, barbaric "sport"

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    Mute Jason Doyle
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    Sep 25th 2011, 3:04 PM

    About time.

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    Mute Mata Mata
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    Sep 25th 2011, 3:29 PM

    Here here !

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    Mute Diari Liffey
    Favourite Diari Liffey
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    Sep 25th 2011, 3:33 PM

    One step more towards independence. Thanks God they are banning this.
    The problem is not because it’s an Spanish tradition, it’s because apart from being a complete shame, Spanish traditions in Catalonia have always been imposed by force and that usually creates a rejection. Catalonia has its own traditions and culture, it does not need anybody to go there and replace them as some have been trying to do during the last 300 years..

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    Mute RG Cuan
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    Sep 25th 2011, 6:14 PM

    Maith thú, visca la terra!

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    Mute Jeff
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    Sep 26th 2011, 10:28 AM

    I am all for Catalonia independence as it means Shelbourne FC will get to play Barcelona FC in the qualifying rounds of champions league more often.

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    Mute Ryan Coughlin
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    Sep 26th 2011, 12:45 AM

    You people are upset that this bull’s life gets ended in a quick 45 minute flurry? Sounds much nicer than living in a small crowded pen his entire life to get butchered and fed to some unthinking human. At least this bull got to live a somewhat natural existence outside with proper food and freedom.

    People always want to blame the OTHER guy for his mistakes. But the fact is, if you’re eating meat, you’re responsible for a whole heap of more animal cruelty, not to mention that meat is 1/4th part of the man-made CO2 today, and a big part in forest destruction.

    Frankly, this vegetarian would be happy letting the Spanish choose what to do with their (infrequently practiced) tradition, and then to ban all factory farms worldwide.

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    Mute Richard Fennessy
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    Sep 26th 2011, 8:08 AM

    quick 45 mins go visit a farm they live in fields not pens and the killing takes 2-5 seconds

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    Mute Ryan Coughlin
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    Sep 27th 2011, 2:33 AM

    Hi Richard.

    Quickly do a Google search. The amount of meat consumed on the planet that comes from traditional, non-factory farms is considerably less than 50%. And the proportion of non-factory animals in the world is decreasing per day.

    I imagine that most of us have never seen a steel mill, but it doesn’t mean that my metal products have come from a blacksmith.

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    Mute Richard Fennessy
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    Sep 25th 2011, 11:31 PM

    shame shame on the sickos who give thumbs down to this shameful blood thirsty evil scum i hope ye dont have kids r pets

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    Mute Diari Liffey
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    Sep 25th 2011, 7:40 PM

    Some pictures of this afternoon shame http://bit.ly/rjE7bl

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    Mute Jeff
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    Sep 26th 2011, 10:30 AM

    Bull fighting is no more cruel than Halal meat & dead a lot quicker and less painful.

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