Sexting study finds one in seven children aged 12 or over has sent private parts image

One in seven minors over the age of 12 has sent a picture or video of their own private parts to another person, according to a study conducted by the Median agency for internet security firm ESET and the Czech Police. The study also suggests that around 20 percent of the images have been misused in some way or another.

Girls are more likely than boys to send pictures of their naked body or private parts, according to the authors of the study.  Usually this is done to please their partner. Around 15 percent of girls who have sent intimate images said that they did this under pressure or under the influence of mbeing manipulated.

A total of 541 respondents between the ages of 12 to 17 took part in the study. The findings were compared with the responses of a further 542 respondents aged 18 or over.