Teen sexting has risen sharply since 2019, new study finds

Teen sexting has increased significantly in recent years, and the consequences can go far beyond an embarrassing message or photo getting into the wrong hands, according to a new national study of 3,466 U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17.

The study, conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, suggests that conversations with teens need to go beyond simply telling them not to sext.

Key takeaways:

Teen sexting has increased sharply since 2019: 32.4% of teens surveyed had received a sext and 23.9% had sent one.
Nearly half (46.8%) of teens who had sent a sext said their image was later shared without permission.
Almost half (49.6%) of teens who had sent a sext reported experiencing sextortion.
Younger teens who sext may be particularly vulnerable: more than 60% of 13-year-olds who had sent a sext said it was shared without their permission.

Teen sexting has increased significantly since 2019

Sexting generally means sending, receiving or sharing sexually suggestive or explicit messages, images or videos digitally.

The researchers found a clear increase compared with their 2019 study:

· Received a sext: 23% in 2019 → 32.4% in 2026

· Sent a sext: 14% in 2019 → 23.9% in 2026

Requests for intimate images were even more common. About 30% of teens said someone had asked them for a sext, while nearly 20% said they had asked someone else for one.

Researchers also point to another complication that parents and teens now have to consider: AI.

AI is also complicating the risks surrounding sexual images online. These tools can be used to create realistic sexual content depicting someone who never took or sent an intimate image. Study co-author Sameer Hinduja warned that such AI-generated content can also be used in sextortion schemes.

Nearly half of teens who sent sexts experienced sextortion

One of the most striking findings concerns what can happen after an intimate image is sent.

Among teens who had sent a sext:

46.8% said their image had been shared with others without their permission.
49.6% said they had subsequently experienced sextortion.
More than 60% of 13-year-olds who had sent a sext said it was shared without their consent, compared with about 41% of 17-year-olds.

Sextortion occurs when someone uses intimate or sexually explicit images, or the threat of sharing them, to pressure a person into meeting their demands. Those demands may include sending more images, performing sexual acts or paying money.

The study also found that who teens sent sexts to mattered considerably. Teens who sent sexts to someone outside a current romantic relationship were more than 13 times as likely to have an image shared without consent and nearly five times as likely to experience sextortion as teens who only sexted with a current boyfriend or girlfriend.

Younger teens may be particularly vulnerable

Although older teenagers were generally more likely to sext, researchers found significant involvement among younger adolescents as well.

That matters because younger teens who did send intimate images appeared particularly vulnerable to losing control over them. More than six in 10 13-year-olds who had sent a sext reported that the image was subsequently shared without their permission.

The findings also show why parents shouldn't assume that a child who doesn't send sexts won't encounter them. A teen may be asked for an image, receive one unsolicited, be shown someone else's image or find themselves under pressure from a romantic partner, friend, stranger or online contact.

What parents can do about teen sexting

The researchers argue that prevention needs to move beyond a simple "don't sext" message. Teens also need practical guidance about consent, boundaries, privacy and what to do when something goes wrong.

Parents can start with a few important conversations:

Explain digital consent. Make it clear that receiving someone's intimate image does not give you permission to show or forward it. Parents can model respect for digital consent by asking their children before posting photos of them online.

Teach them to pause before sending. Encourage your teen to think about what could happen once an image leaves their device. Even content sent to someone they trust can potentially be saved, copied or shared.
Practice how to respond to pressure. Talk through realistic situations: What could they say if someone asks for an intimate photo? What should they do if a friend shows them someone else's? Having an answer ready can make it easier to react when the situation actually happens.
Create a safety net if something goes wrong. Your teen needs to know that asking you for help won't automatically result in punishment, anger or losing access to their phone. Fear of a parent's reaction can make an already frightening situation harder to disclose. If they receive an intimate image, encourage them not to forward it. If someone pressures or threatens them, make clear that they can come to you for help.

And importantly, most teenagers in the study were not sending sexts. The point isn't to convince parents that every teenager is doing it, but to prepare young people for situations they may encounter online.

As Hinduja put it, the goal should be to help teens recognize risky situations, protect their privacy and make informed decisions while still respecting their growing autonomy.

For parents, that means talking about sexting before there's a crisis, and making sure their child knows that if an intimate image is shared, manipulated or used to threaten them, they don't have to deal with it alone.

Bitdefender Family Plans help protect your family's digital life from scams, malicious links, malware and other digital threats, while giving parents age-appropriate tools to support their children's online safety. Combined with open conversations about consent, privacy and sextortion, these tools can help families navigate an increasingly complicated digital world together.

Find out more about how Bitdefender Family Plans can support your family’s digital safety.

Source: Florida Atlantic University study on teen sexting

FAQs

What is sexting among teens?

Sexting generally means sending, receiving or sharing sexually suggestive or explicit messages, images or videos digitally. It can include content created with a camera as well as manipulated or AI-generated sexual images.

How common is sexting among teenagers?

In the 2026 U.S. study, 32.4% of teens ages 13 to 17 said they had received a sext, while 23.9% said they had sent one. About 30% said someone had asked them to send a sext.

What are the risks of teen sexting?

Intimate images can be saved or shared without consent and may be used for bullying, harassment, coercion or sextortion. In the study, 46.8% of teens who had sent a sext said an image was shared without permission.

What is sextortion?

Sextortion happens when someone threatens to share an intimate or sexual image unless the victim meets demands, such as sending more images, providing sexual favors or paying money.

What should parents do if their teen is being sextorted?

Stay calm and make sure your child knows they can ask for help without being blamed or punished. Don't pay or comply with the demands. Preserve relevant evidence, report the account and content to the platform, and contact the appropriate authorities or child-protection services. Help your teen block further contact once you've preserved the information you may need for a report.