Sexting na adolescência: pensando riscos e prevenção para a vivência saudável da sexualidade em tempos digitais

Abstract

Adolescence is a process inherent to every human being, being the moment of human development between childhood and adulthood. It is understood as a social category, and should be viewed from its singularities. In this process, the teenager starts to live and experience new social relationships, when sexuality manifests itself in new and unknown sensations. One of the behaviors that requires attention in this area is sexting, when someone produces and sends or receives sexual content from himself or another person through technological devices, whether by text, video or image. It is understood that this is contemporarily an expression of sexuality in adolescence, but that it may have elements of vulnerability. The objective of this work was to know and analyze the perceptions of adolescents about the practice of exchanging sexual content on the Internet and social networks (sexting). Qualitative research, carried out with 15 adolescent students from a state school in the countryside of the state of São Paulo. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews and focus group in August and September 2022. Data analysis was performed through reflective thematic analysis. Three final themes emerged, namely "Relating to digital social networks"; "Experiencing sexting"; and "Thinking about risks and prevention for a healthy experience of sexuality in digital times". The first theme addressed the immersion of adolescents in digital media, and the communication function offered by social networks. In this sense, they develop and relate through these networks, perceiving risks and benefits. In the second, sexting appeared as an inherent part of relationships, being articulated to violence by the adolescents. They reflect on the roles of gender inequality as determinants for the establishment of these violent relationships, including for the consequences of these violences. Finally, in the last theme, they explore risks posed by the practice of sexting, suggesting important actions for the confrontation of unhealthy experiences, in perspectives that consider the family, school, and wider community contexts. The study brings the urgent need for discussions with adolescents, parents or caregivers, teachers and community about safe and healthy use of the Internet and social networks, as well as healthy experiences of sexuality. Further studies covering other settings, especially large municipalities, are recommended