Youth need more education around non-consensual sext sharing, according to Kelly Babchishin, a Carleton University researcher and director of the Sexually Harmful Behaviour Research Lab.
Non-consensual sext sharing occurs when people share or forward sexually explicit messages or images by cell phone without the permission of the original sender.
Babchishin’s recent research, published in September 2024, surveyed young adults to determine how often and why individuals engage in this behaviour.
The Charlatan spoke to Babchishin to discuss the impacts of non-consensual sexting and how education surrounding it needs to improve.
The Charlatan (TC): How did you conduct your research into non-consensual sharing of sexts?
Kelly Babchishin (KB): We did an online survey of more than 3,000 people aged 18 to 30 and we asked them about their sexting behaviour and whether they’ve ever forwarded a sext they received. We also asked about other types of harmful sexual behaviours they may have committed, to look at the overlap between the two.
TC: What are the underlying motivations for the non-consensual forwarding of sexts?
KB: Survey respondents rarely said revenge or harming another person was their reason for forwarding a sext. Most people thought sending it was funny or cool. We also found that men and those who were more susceptible to peer pressure were more likely to non-consensually share a sext.
No sexual education in high school covers sexting, other than saying “don’t do that.” There are no social norms on how you sext safely and what consent is within sexting. That’s why we argue “revenge porn” is not the ideal term for non-consensual sext sharing. It makes it sound like it’s just certain people that do this, but it’s much more common.
About one in 10 people will share someone’s sext without that person’s consent. Often it’s with peers and friends thinking it’s cool, and not necessarily understanding that this is counter-consent, as well as illegal.
TC: How does non-consensual sext forwarding impact people?
KB: It is harmful and it’s traumatizing. It would help if people had the tools to know how to sext safely. Don’t sext someone you’ve only met online. Don’t share your face in the image unless it’s a trusting, long-term relationship. There are safe sexting principles out there that aren’t really taught, at least not in Ontario’s current sexual curriculum.
TC: Without sexual education, how does sexting look in the digital age?
KB: Sexting is normalized now, but we don’t talk about it. The whole “just don’t do it” thing is not working. We are an online community now. We do a lot of long-term, long-distance relationships. Sexting is part of a healthy sexual behaviour, if done well.
Having these conversations is key, but parents aren’t well-equipped for them. It’s not discussed in high school or universities. It’s often an abstinence approach, which, as we know from in-person sexual behavior, never works. It’s the same thing with sexting — without the education, you don’t know how to do it well and you could potentially harm someone inadvertently.
TC: How should people, specifically young adults, be educated on this?
KB: Sexual education and having those conversations with the person you’re sexting is key. Hopefully, with education programs and more conversation, we’ll see less non-consensual sharing because people won’t think it’s cool to do — that’s how we change social norms. What’s necessary right now is having these open conversations about sexting with your friends, because they’re likely doing it.
TC: What questions should be asked within these conversations?
KB: You can ask how they’re doing it, how they navigate consent. Also, share your expectations about it. With that broader conversation, hopefully there’s a change, so individuals can do it in a safe, healthy manner.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji/The Charlatan.
