• 15% of cell-owning teens (ages 12-17) says they’ve received sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via text messaging. That’s 1 in 6.
• 4% of the same group say they’ve sent the same.

Either some whorish teens are up to no good (Tiger?!) or we’ve got some liars in the mix. *gasp* Lying teens on a survey of sexual habits? Blame Gossip Girl and Adam Lambert!

Statistics almost double when looking at the older audience:

• 8% of 17-year-olds with cell phones have sent a sexually provocative image by text
• 30% have received a nude or nearly nude image on their phone.

Pew’s study gives in-depth look at some key responses from the 800 teens surveyed in Denver. In their honesty and naivety some are notably amusing.

“Yes, I do. I only do it with my girlfriend b/c we have already been sexually active with each other,” wrote one older high school age boy. “It’s not really a big deal.”

Glad you two saved the exciting stuff for last.

This girl, meanwhile, gives us some insight as to high school popularity in 2009.

“If a guy wants to hookup with you, he’ll send a pictures of his private parts or a naked picture of him[self]. It happens about 10 times a month,” explained one older high school girl. “It’s mostly the guys I date or just a guy that…really wants to hook up with you. I’m not really that type of person [who sends sexts], but I have friends who have.”

A younger high school male gives us the equivalent of, “Well I don’t think she should dress like a slut but I’m not going to stop it …”

“Yes I have received some pics that include nudity. Girls will send them sometimes, not often. I don’t know why they think it’s a good idea but I’m not going to stop it. Sometimes a guy will get one and forward it to all his friends.”

Absent from this study are surveys of those actually using text messaging to sext. While less obscene on the surface, anyone who drinks under sexual pressure knows a horny160 characters can cause as much havoc as a 160 kilobyte picture. It makes neither more appropriate, but pictures are serving as as a scapegoat for a wider range of sexuality promiscuity that is no more familiar to this generation of teens than the early Millenials. The results demonstrate the confusing process of adolescence in a sex-driven society, and the continuing need for comprehensive education and guiding minds through it all.

Too bad there’s not an app for that.

The most recent public example of awkward teens going through puberty: Two cheerleaders were suspended from their Seattle-area high school squad after sending nude photos of themselves to people who apparently gave a shit. Now, one of the teen’s parents are suing the school district.

Below, CNN Headline News pundits explain how teens today are engaging in sexual misconduct using phones their parents bought them.

We’ll leave the asinine nature of this situation to itself. Let’s focus on the commentary.

Ms. Pundit/expert Dr. Dr. Sari Locker: Good luck finding a phone without a camera. Why don’t you have a phone with a camera? Clearly no one is interested in you.

Locker’s Web site image would demand you think otherwise:

Oh, we’re not done with this one yet. I’ll take hypocritical for $500, Alex.

Wait until you see what books this angel has written – it’s below the fold.

Locker makes note of three factors causing this outrageous act of … trying to impress other people using what ya mamma gave ya.

1. Parents (They enabled them with the technology.)
2. Desire to perform (Celebrities take off their tops, so must teens.)
3. Partner pressure (Boys have other options these days, so the girls have more pressure to put out!)

Hm. I wonder who helps facilitate this pressure. I wouldn’t be able to find it at, say, a neighborhood Barnes & Noble, would I?

These are all books penned by Locker, courtesy her bio page:

• Mindblowing Sex in the Real World (1995), a hip and savvy book about sex for twentysomethings.
• Sari Says: The Real Dirt on Everything From Sex to School (2001), a great multi-topic teen advice book, which was awarded by the American Library Association
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Sexy (2000) that discusss how to look, act, and feel sexier
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amazing Sex (1999; 2003; 2005), a comprehensive 480 page book about all aspects of sex for adults of all ages

Mindblowing Sex in the Real World. Yeah, and the celebrities are the problem?

Be sure to check out her other articles, while you’re visiting:

• The Science of Casual Sex from Maxim
• Eight Great Places to Have Sex
• Why New Sex is the Best Sex from Playboy
• And last but not least: Hand job techniques

Locker goes on to explain the “partner pressure” factor, saying:

“Boys nowadays are looking at online pornography.”

Fucking-a! Say it ain’t so!! THEY’RE DOING THIS CRAZY MASTURBATING THING, TOO! GOD ALMIGHTY CAN ANYONE STOP THE MADNESS!?!

Nowadays? As in 2008? Because the Internet didn’t have porn in 1998? No – it did. I checked. And then I read the techniques.

Thanks, Doc!