• 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.