We are in a moment of digital transformation that, in turn, is changing our society, so-called information and communication technologies offer many advantages, facilitate, among other things, the dissemination of knowledge and culture, promote economic development, foster creativity Foster social relations and generate recreational spaces.
The network has been a new space in which we can explore our sexuality. Adults, young people and teenagers experiment with their body and play with erotic content broadcast on networks. The Internet enables constant communication, available 24 hours a day and virtually anywhere in the world. These factors, while faciliting relationships, also involve great risks, especially for minors. Some of the best-known risk practices are sexting and online grooming.
- Adolescence is an evolutionary stage in which the search for identity intensifies.
- It is a period of experimentation with one’s body and sexual orientation.
- The perception of risk is generally low.
- Accompanied by a tendency to disinhibition.
- Because biologically.
- The self-regulation of emotions and the ability to control our actions are developing.
The Internet is a form of expression and experimentation that seems harmless to young people, this combination of factors can lead to risky behaviors, especially if there is no sexual and emotional education that allows them to protect themselves, there is nothing negative about itself in the exchange. sexual messages and self-examination, but if appropriate action is not taken, it can trigger serious problems related to our privacy, security or physical and mental integrity.
Sexting involves sending photos, videos or messages of a sexual nature over the Internet or mobile devices, this practice is motivated by different aspects, such as exploring one’s own sexual identity or orientation, participating in erotic games with your partner or with different people at the same time, to increase self-esteem or as a way to dare to do and say what personally , this is not done out of shame, fear or other limitations.
Of course, sexting is not practiced exclusively in adolescents, the Internet is an open door for millions of young people and adults who use the network to share sexual content, sometimes we do not know the possible risks. It is important to be aware of this for two fundamental reasons:
Sending photos, videos or messages of a sexual nature over the Internet or a mobile device is called sexting.
On the other hand, online grooming is the process by which an adult commits sexual abuse to minors through the network. The Internet offers the opportunity to hide personal identity, generating different profiles that do not necessarily have to correspond to reality.
A person can present themselves with a fake profile and communicate through it simultaneously with multiple people at the same time. This is a big risk because adults have easy access to the accounts of children they can contact without any control. Abuse can occur directly, in person or indirectly, such as the Internet, asking children for sexually explicit content, such as personal photos or videos.
According to a study cited in 2018 by Manuel Gómez-Guadix and Patricia de Santisteban, the probability of sexting increases gradually with age, at 12 years around 3% of minors have already participated in sexting, at 17 the percentage increases to more than 35%.
There are certain factors that make it easier to perpetuate sexual abuse over the network. As mentioned above, the Internet makes it easy to hide from reality and hide behind a mask. This anonymity allows adults to perform behaviors they personally could not perform on their own. Environment.
Similarly, the Internet has an uncontrollable scale that allows multiple interactions with multiple people at the same time, that is, there is an excellent facility to access different contacts and different profiles without having to adhere to social norms. The network immerses itself in a parallel world, the digital world, where the absence of rules and limits is spread face to face.
In this sense, risk perception is reduced and network users commit a careless relationship, especially when it comes to teenagers, relationships start much more frantically, uninhibited and quickly.
The profiles do not seem to represent people of flesh and blood, finishing and starting a relationship becomes superficial, almost like a simple commercial transaction in which emotional or sexual greed is exchanged, when the benefits disappear, boredom appears and is passed on to the next. Lack of direct contact seems to encourage experimentation without measuring the consequences.
All of this affects the aggressors’ capacity for empathy, the gap between the network and reality prevents the person from putting themselves in the place of the other and leads them to ignore the suffering or the possibility of hurting others. Lack of security. There is no specific space to stay, since the network does not understand the limits of space-time, what is shared there is recorded forever.
One of the main mistakes is not to consider our attitudes on the Internet as relevant to what we do personally, it is very important to be aware of the impact of networks and their risks, to ask who is behind the screen, with whom we are. talking about the other side and what content we share with that person.
“The Internet has become the nervous system of our societies and we must learn to use it” – José Luis Orihuela-
In the case of minors, it is very important that there is parental control over network interactions and psychoeducation for proper use. The advancement of technology is a tangible reality, we live in a world where the lack of access to the Internet does not exist Avoid this reality will not help.
It is necessary to accept that the Internet is part of our day to day, so we have to learn how to use it safely. There is no point in banning the use of mobile phones or restricting access to social media if we do not educate young people for proper use and convey values such as respect or listening.
Education based on respect and consent is the fundamental pillar of any healthy relationship, adolescents need to learn to set boundaries, explore their sexuality safely, say no, respect others when they reject a proposal or sexual contact. We need to equip them with communicative skills, so that they can express their emotions and desires without hurting each other, give them a safe space in which to express their fears and concerns, as well as warn them of virtual reality.
It’s not about raising fear or inhibiting their concerns, it’s about informing them of the dangers of the network so they know how to recognize a risky situation and how to respond to it.
If a minor tells us about a situation of abuse it is important that we listen to it and protect it, we must never blame the victim for what happened, because in a situation of abuse there was a person exercising his power and superiority manipulate and perpetuate the process of coertion. We need to provide emotional support and get in touch with professionals.
“Whether you decide to have sex alone or with someone else, and whatever type of sexual activity you choose, respect for you and your sexual partner is always paramount. “Lara Castro-