Journal of Marketing Behavior > Vol 3 > Issue 4

Private Disclosure; Public Exposure: An Exploratory Consideration of Gender Asymmetries in Adolescent Sexting

Robin L. Soster, Drury University, USA, rsoster@drury.edu , Wendy Attaya Boland, American University, USA, boland@american.edu
 
Suggested Citation
Robin L. Soster and Wendy Attaya Boland (2019), "Private Disclosure; Public Exposure: An Exploratory Consideration of Gender Asymmetries in Adolescent Sexting", Journal of Marketing Behavior: Vol. 3: No. 4, pp 263-292. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/107.00000056

Publication Date: 29 Jan 2019
© 2018 R. L. Soster and W. A. Boland
 
Subjects
 
Keywords
AdolescenceGenderSextingPublic policy
 

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In this article:
Introductory Case Study 
Digital Technology and Communication 
Adolescents 
Study One 
Study Two 
General Discussion and Future Research Directions 
References 

Abstract

Our study explores gender differences with respect to the widespread phenomenon of adolescent sexting. We first present an 18-month long case study conducted with a family whose adolescent daughter had engaged in sexting behavior. We then describe the results from two surveys conducted with college underclassmen. Consistent with the case study, the descriptive data emerging from our exploratory studies suggest that significant gender asymmetries emerge for adolescent sexters. Specifically, survey responses revealed that females (vs. males) were more likely to create (i.e., send) sexted content, while males (vs. females) were more likely to distribute (i.e., share) sexted content with others. In addition, consistent with sexual double standards, females were more likely to experience negative outcomes from sexting than males. We conclude with specific educational and policy recommendations, and a call for additional explorations of this and other related phenomena by those conducting research in the areas of gender differences, communications technology, and/or risky adolescent consumption.

DOI:10.1561/107.00000056