{"id":326,"date":"2021-03-29T19:07:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T19:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourlab.wordpress.com\/?page_id=326"},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:50:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:50:55","slug":"sexting-and-non-consensual-sharing-of-sexual-images","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/sexting-and-non-consensual-sharing-of-sexual-images\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexting and Non-Consensual Sharing of Sexual Images"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sexually Harmful Behaviours Research Lab<\/p>\n

Sexting and non-consensual sharing<\/h2>\n

Understanding sexting, sexual coercion in digital contexts, non-consensual sharing, and safer practices.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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\u2190 Back to all research areas<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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\"A<\/p>\n
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Why this research matters<\/p>\n

Separating consensual sexual expression from digital sexual harm<\/h2>\n

Sexting is common among young adults and can be a consensual form of sexual communication. Our research focuses on the circumstances in which digital sexual behaviour becomes harmful\u2014including pressure to sext, unsolicited sexting, sextortion, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Research program<\/p>\n

What we examine<\/h2>\n
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Consensual and unsolicited sexting<\/h3>\n

We examine the overlap and distinctions between consensual, unwanted, and unsolicited digital sexual communication.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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Safer sexting practices<\/h3>\n

We study how risky practices vary across genders and sexual orientations and how evidence can support realistic, non-stigmatizing prevention messages.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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Non-consensual sharing and coercion<\/h3>\n

We investigate the characteristics of people who forward sexts without consent and how this behaviour overlaps with in-person sexual coercion.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Current focus<\/h2>\n

We are continuing to examine when sexting is consensual, unwanted, or harmful, which practices are associated with greater vulnerability, and how research can inform safer sexting education without treating consensual behaviour as inherently problematic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Recent and foundational work<\/p>\n

Selected publications<\/h2>\n
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Consensual and unsolicited sexting are not completely distinct<\/h3>\n

Holmes, E. J., Healey, L., Thorne, E., & Babchishin, K. M. (2025). Sexuality & Culture.<\/p>\n

Open publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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Safe sexting and sexual orientation<\/h3>\n

Holmes, E. J., & Babchishin, K. M. (2024). Archives of Sexual Behavior.<\/p>\n

Open publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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Non-consensual forwarding of sexts<\/h3>\n

Holmes, E. J., Baskurt, S., Hilkes, G., & Babchishin, K. M. (2024). Journal of Sexual Aggression.<\/p>\n

Open publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

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Sexting in young adults: A normative sexual behavior<\/h3>\n

Thorne, E., Babchishin, K. M., Fisico, R., & Healey, L. (2024). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53, 593\u2013609.<\/p>\n

Open publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Watch the research summary<\/h2>\n

A short video from Carleton\u2019s Forensic Psychology Research Centre explains our study of non-consensual forwarding of sexts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Watch the video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Support for this research<\/p>\n

Funding partners<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\"Ontario<\/p>\n

Ontario Early Researcher Awards<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Interested in research collaboration?<\/h2>\n

We welcome conversations about data partnerships, applied research, knowledge exchange, and new research questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Email the SHB Lab<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sexually Harmful Behaviours Research Lab Sexting and non-consensual sharing Understanding sexting, sexual coercion in digital contexts, non-consensual sharing, and safer practices. \u2190 Back to all research areas Why this research matters Separating consensual sexual expression from digital sexual harm Sexting is common among young adults and can be a consensual form of sexual communication. Our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"\nSexting and Non-Consensual Sharing of Sexual Images - Sexually Harmful Behaviours Lab<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sexually Harmful Behaviours Research Lab Sexting and non-consensual sharing Understanding sexting, sexual coercion in digital contexts, non-consensual\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/sexting-and-non-consensual-sharing-of-sexual-images\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/sexting-and-non-consensual-sharing-of-sexual-images\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/sexting-and-non-consensual-sharing-of-sexual-images\/\",\"name\":\"Sexting and Non-Consensual Sharing of Sexual Images - 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