“Sexting” is defined in Wikipedia as the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. Although the word did not exist before 2008, sexting was a finalist for the “word of the year” by the New Oxford American Dictionary in 2009.
Sexting takes advantage of modern communication technology to send messages or pictures to one or more parties. While young people typically practice sexting, other age groups sext as well.
Sexting is not just a U.S. phenomenon. Reports of sexting have been filed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and even China.
Sexters largely rely on cell phones, which are enormously popular among young people. Estimates suggest that between 733 and 874 percent of youth own cell phones. Moreover, teens stay digitally connected. Some 89 percent have a profile on a social networking site like MySpace or Facebook.
Not surprisingly, the motivations for sexting are rooted in romance and socialization. Among teens who have sent sex messages or photos, 69 percent sent the message to a boyfriend or girlfriend, 39 percent sexted to someone they dated, and 30 percent sexted to someone they wanted to date