Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Articles
DOI: 10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-2.8
Submitted: 2022-11-19
Published: 2023-11-03

Sexting, fear of missing out (FOMO), and problematic social network use among adolescents

Jagiellonian University
Palacky University, Olomouc
FOMO Problematic social network use Problematic Internet Use Sexting wellbeing youths adolescent Poland

Abstract

The article is part of the current discussion on the scale and mechanisms of selected threats of the digital world to which adolescents are exposed. The text presents data on three e-risks: FOMO, Problematic Use of Social Networks, and sexting. The study covered adolescents aged 13-17 in Poland (N=1053) in 2020. Based on analyses of the quantitative data, it was noted that: 1) Almost half of the adolescents use SNS daily just before going to sleep; 2) Every fourth respondent has multiple features of problematic Internet use (PUI); 3) The majority of adolescents use the Internet in ways not classified as PUI; 4) The age and gender (female) of the respondents is associated with higher levels of PUI; 5) The vast majority of adolescents have no experience of sexting; 6) Adolescents are much more often recipients of materials classified as sexting than creators; 7) Girls receive erotic messages, much more often than boys.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

  1. Abel, J. P., Buff, C. L., & Burr, S. A. (2016). Social media and the fear of missing out: Scale development and assessment. Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER), 14(1), 33-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19030/jber.v14i1.9554
  2. Adamec, P. & Šimáně, M. (2021). Perception of online learning by students of university pedagogical study programs during covid-19 pandemic. Ad Alta - Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. 11(2), 8-14. doi: 10.33543/1102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33543/1102814
  3. Anastassiou, A. (2017). Sexting and young people: A review of the qualitative literature. The Qualitative Report, 22(8), 2231-2239. doi: 10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2951 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2951
  4. Arrivillaga, C., Rey, L., & Extremera, N. (2022). Psychological distress, rumination and problematic smartphone use among spanish adolescents: an emotional intelligence-based conditional process analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 296, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.021
  5. Atroszko, P. A., El Abiddine, F. Z., Malik, S., Mamun, M. A., Vally, Z., & Czerwiński, S. K. (2022). Lack of measurement invariance in a widely used Facebook addiction scale may thwart progress in research on social-network-use disorder: A cross-cultural study. Computers in Human Behavior, 128, 107132. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107132 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.107132
  6. Baiden, F., Amankwah, J., & Owusu, A. (2020). Sexting among high school students in a metropolis in Ghana: an exploratory and descriptive study. Journal of Children and Media, 14(3), 361-375. doi:10.1080/17482798.2020.1719854 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2020.1719854
  7. Barrense-Dias, Y., Berchtold, A., Surís, J. C., & Akre, C. (2017). Sexting and the definition issue. Journal of adolescent health, 61(5), 544-554. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.009
  8. Burić, J., Garcia, J. R., & Štulhofer, A. (2021). Is sexting bad for adolescent girls' psychological well-being? A longitudinal assessment in middle to late adolescence. New Media & Society, 23(7), 2052-2071. doi: 10.1177/1461444820931091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820931091
  9. Ciesielska, M., & Jemielniak, D. (2021). Fairness in digital sharing legal professional attitudes toward digital piracy and digital commons. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology. 73(7), 899–912. Portico. doi: 10.1002/asi.24592 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24592
  10. Davey, S., Davey, A., Raghav, S. K., Singh, J. V., Singh, N., Blachnio, A., & Przepiórkaa, A. (2018). Predictors and consequences of 'Phubbing' among adolescents and youth in India: An impact evaluation study. Journal of family & community medicine, 25(1), 35. doi: 10.4103/jfcm.jfcm_71_17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_71_17
  11. Del Rey, R., Casas, J. A., Ortega-Ruiz, R., Schultze-Krumbholz, A., Scheithauer, H., Smith, P., ... & Plichta, P. (2015). Structural validation and cross-cultural robustness of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 50, 141-147. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.065 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.065
  12. Dodaj, A., Sesar, K., Pérez, M. O., Del Rey, R., Howard, D., & Gerding Speno, A. (2023). Using vignettes in qualitative research to assess young adults’ perspectives of sexting behaviours. Human Technology, 19(1), 103–120. doi: 10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-1.7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-1.7
  13. Donati, M. A., Beccari, C., & Primi, C. (2022). Boredom and problematic Facebook use in adolescents: What is the relationship considering trait or state boredom? Addictive Behaviors, 125, 107132. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107132 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107132
  14. Dvoryanchikov, N.V., Bovina, I.B., Delibalt, V.V., Dozortseva, E.G., Bogdanovich, N.V., Rubtsova, O.V. (2020). DEVIANT ONLINE BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENT AND YOUTH CIRCLES: IN SEARCH OF A RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE), 8(2), 105-119. doi: 10.5937/IJCRSEE2002105D DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/IJCRSEE2002105D
  15. Englander, E., & McCoy, M. (2018). Sexting-prevalence, age, sex, and outcomes. JAMA pediatrics, 172(4), 317-318. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.5682 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.5682
  16. Fineberg, N. A., Demetrovics, Z., Stein, D. J., Ioannidis, K., Potenza, M. N., Grünblatt, E., ... & Chamberlain, S. R. (2018). Manifesto for a European research network into problematic use of the internet. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 28(11), 1232-1246. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.08.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.08.004
  17. Franchina, V., Vanden Abeele, M., Van Rooij, A. J., Lo Coco, G., & De Marez, L. (2018). Fear of missing out as a predictor of problematic social media use and phubbing behavior among Flemish adolescents. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(10), 2319. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15102319 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102319
  18. Galovan, A. M., Drouin, M., & McDaniel, B. T. (2018). Sexting profiles in the United States and Canada: Implications for individual and relationship well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 79, 19-29. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2017.10.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.10.017
  19. Gregg, D., Somers, C. L., Pernice, F. M., Hillman, S. B., & Kernsmith, P. (2018). Sexting rates and predictors from an urban midwest high school. Journal of School Health, 88(6), 423-433. doi: 10.1111/josh.12628 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12628
  20. Hetz, P. R., Dawson, C. L., & Cullen, T. A. (2015). Social media use and the fear of missing out (FoMO) while studying abroad. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 47(4), 259-272. doi: 10.1080/15391523.2015.1080585 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2015.1080585
  21. Holoyda, B., Landess, J., Sorrentino, R., & Friedman, S. H. (2018). Trouble at teens' fingertips: Youth sexting and the law. Behavioral sciences & the law, 36(2), 170-181. doi: 10.1002/bsl.2335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2335
  22. Holt, K. M., Holt, T. J., Cale, J., Brewer, R., & Goldsmith, A. (2021). Assessing the role of self-control and technology access on adolescent sexting and sext dissemination. Computers in Human Behavior, 125, 106952. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.106952 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106952
  23. Ioannidis, K., Treder, M. S., Chamberlain, S. R., Kiraly, F., Redden, S. A., Stein, D. J., ... & Grant, J. E. (2018). Problematic internet use as an age-related multifaceted problem: evidence from a two-site survey. Addictive behaviors, 81, 157-166. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.02.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.02.017
  24. Jenkins, E. M., & Stamp, G. H. (2018). Sexting in the public domain: competing discourses in online news article comments in the USA and the UK involving teenage sexting. Journal of Children and Media, 12(3), 295-311. doi:10.1080/17482798.2018.1431556 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2018.1431556
  25. Kachingwe, O. N., Salerno, J. P., Boekeloo, B. O., Fish, J. N., Geddings-Hayes, M., Aden, F., & Aparicio, E. M. (2020). 'The internet is not private': The role of social media in sexual health among youth in foster care. Journal of adolescence, 82, 50-57. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.06.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.06.005
  26. Kim, S., Martin-Storey, A., Drossos, A., Barbosa, S., & Georgiades, K. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of sexting behaviours in a provincially representative sample of adolescents. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 65(6), 401-408. doi: 10.1177/0706743719895205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743719895205
  27. Korjonen‐Kuusipuro, K., & Wojciechowski, A. (2023). Hopes for a better (techno) future. Human Technology, 19(1), 1–4. doi: 10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-1.1
  28. Kuss, D. J., & Lopez-Fernandez, O. (2016). Internet addiction and problematic Internet use: A systematic review of clinical research. World journal of psychiatry, 6(1), 143. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v6.i1.143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v6.i1.143
  29. Livingstone, S. (2019). EU kids online. The international encyclopedia of media literacy, 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0065
  30. Lucić, M., Baćak, V., & Štulhofer, A. (2019). The role of peer networks in adolescent pornography use and sexting in Croatia. Journal of Children and Media, 14(1), 110-127. doi:10.1080/17482798.2019.1637356 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2019.1637356
  31. Maes, C., & Vandenbosch, L. (2022). Physically distant, virtually close: Adolescents' sexting behaviors during a strict lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Computers in Human Behavior, 126, 107033. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.107033
  32. Marengo, D., Fabris, M. A., Longobardi, C., & Settanni, M. (2022). Smartphone and social media use contributed to individual tendencies towards social media addiction in Italian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addictive behaviors, 126, 107204. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107204 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107204
  33. Marganski, A. (2017). Sexting in Poland and the United States: A Comparative Study of Personal and Social-Situational Factors. International journal of cyber criminology, 11(2).
  34. Morelli, M., Urbini, F., Bianchi, D., Baiocco, R., Cattelino, E., Laghi, F., ... & Chirumbolo, A. (2021). The relationship between dark triad personality traits and sexting behaviors among adolescents and young adults across 11 countries. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(5), 2526. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052526 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052526
  35. Muhametjanova, G., Afacan Adanır, G., & Akmatbekova, A. (2019). Internet and social networks use habits of adolescents between ages of 10-19 in the Kyrgyz Republic. Journal of Children and Media, 14(2), 173-186. doi: 10.1080/17482798.2019.1684965 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2019.1684965
  36. Nakayama, H., Ueno, F., Mihara, S., Kitayuguchi, T., & Higuchi, S. (2020). Relationship between problematic Internet use and age at initial weekly Internet use. Journal of behavioral Addictions, 9(1), 129-139. doi: 10.1556/2006.2020.00009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2020.00009
  37. Ng, M. Y., Harrison, A., Bath, E., Kemp, K., Galbraith, K., Brown, L. K., & Tolou-Shams, M. (2022). Sexting and behavioral health in first-time justice-involved adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 132, 106298. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106298
  38. Ojeda, M., & Del Rey, R. (2021). Lines of Action for Sexting Prevention and Intervention: A Systematic Review. Archives of sexual behavior, 1-29. doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02089-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02089-3
  39. Pyżalski, J. (2016). From the paradigm of risk to the paradigm of opportunities - prosocial and pro-developmental use of the Internet by children and young people In M. Tanaś (ed.). Teenagers towards the internet. Warsaw: NASK.
  40. Pyżalski, J. (2017). Bright side-participation and engagement of children and youth in developmentally beneficial and prosocial activities. The abused child. Theory, research, practice, 16(1), 288-303.
  41. Rębisz, S., Sikora, I., & Smoleń-Rębisz, K. (2016). Feelings of loneliness and the level of internet addiction among adolescents. Education - Technology - Informatics, 15(1), 90-98. doi:10.15584/eti.2016.1.13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15584/eti.2016.1.13
  42. Romera, E. M., Camacho, A., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & Falla, D. (2021). Cybergossip, cyberaggression, problematic Internet use and family communication. Comunicar, 29(67). doi: 10.3916/c67-2021-05 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3916/C67-2021-05
  43. Sánchez Vega, E., Cantero-Téllez, R., & Rodríguez-Martínez, M. del C. (2016). Adicción a Internet en futuros profesores. Un estudio de caso con alumnado universitario. Innoeduca. International Journal of Technology and Educational Innovation, 2(1), 46–53. doi: 10.20548/innoeduca.2016.v2i1.1063 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20548/innoeduca.2016.v2i1.1063
  44. Seabra, L., Loureiro, M., Pereira, H., Monteiro, S., Marina Afonso, R., & Esgalhado, G. (2017). Relationship between Internet addiction and self-esteem: A cross-cultural study in Portugal and Brazil. Interacting with computers, 29(5), 767-778. doi: /10.1093/iwc/iwx011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/iwc/iwx011
  45. Siegle, D. (2010). Cyberbullying and sexting: Technology abuses of the 21st century. Gifted child today, 33(2), 14-65. doi: 10.1177/107621751003300206 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/107621751003300206
  46. Smahel, D., Machackova, H., Mascheroni, G., Dedkova, L., Staksrud, E., Ólafsson, K., Livingstone, S., and Hasebrink, U. (2020). EU Kids Online 2020: Survey results from 19 countries. EU Kids Online. doi: 10.21953/lse.47fdeqj01ofo
  47. Strohmaier, H., Murphy, M., & DeMatteo, D. (2014). Youth sexting: Prevalence rates, driving motivations, and the deterrent effect of legal consequences. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 11(3), 245-255. doi: 10.1007/s13178-014-0162-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-014-0162-9
  48. Talis, G. (2022). Internet Addiction. In Substance and Non-Substance Related Addictions (pp. 99-107). Springer, Cham. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84834-7_7
  49. Tran, B. X., Hinh, N. D., Nguyen, L. H., Le, B. N., Nong, V. M., Thuc, V. T. M., ... & Ho, R. C. (2017). A study on the influence of internet addiction and online interpersonal influences on health-related quality of life in young Vietnamese. BMC public health, 17(1), 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3983-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3983-z
  50. Tomczyk, Ł. (2019). Problematyczne użytkowanie internetu oraz portali społecznościowych wśród polskiej młodzieży. E-Mentor, 2019(2(79)), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.15219/em79.1411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15219/em79.1411
  51. Tomczyk, Ł. (2021). Research Trends in Media Pedagogy: Between the Paradigm of Risk and the Paradigm of Opportunity. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE), 9(3), 399–406. https://doi.org/10.23947/2334-8496-2021-9-3-399-406 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23947/2334-8496-2021-9-3-399-406
  52. UNESCO (2016). UNESCO strategy on education for health and well-being. Contributing to the sustainable development goals. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  53. Van Ouytsel, J., Van Gool, E., Walrave, M., Ponnet, K., & Peeters, E. (2017). Sexting: adolescents' perceptions of the applications used for, motives for, and consequences of sexting. Journal of Youth Studies, 20(4), 446-470. doi: 10.1080/13676261.2016.1241865 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2016.1241865
  54. Van Ouytsel, J., Walrave, M., & Ponnet, K. (2018). Adolescent sexting research: the challenges ahead. JAMA pediatrics, 172(5), 405-406. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.0013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.0013
  55. Van Ouytsel, J., Walrave, M., De Marez, L., Vanhaelewyn, B., & Ponnet, K. (2021). Sexting, pressured sexting and image-based sexual abuse among a weighted-sample of heterosexual and LGB-youth. Computers in Human Behavior, 117, 106630. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106630 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106630
  56. Van Royen, K., Vandebosch, H., & Poels, K. (2015). Severe Sexual Harassment on Social Networking Sites: Belgian Adolescents' Views. Journal of Children and Media, 9(4), 472-491. doi:10.1080/17482798.2015.1089301 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2015.1089301
  57. Vandoninck, S., d' Haenens, L., & Roe, K. (2013). Online Risks. Journal of Children and Media, 7(1), 60-78. doi:10.1080/17482798.2012.739780 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2012.739780
  58. Velicu, A., & Marinescu, V. (2019). Usage of social media by children and teenagers: Results of EU KIDS online II. In Internet and Technology Addiction: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice (pp. 115-151). IGI Global. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-8900-6.ch008
  59. Velicu, A., Balea, B. & Barbovschi, M. (2019). Acces, utilizări, riscuri și oportunități ale internetului pentru copiii din România. Rezultatele EU Kids Online 2018. Bucharest: IRES - Institutul Român pentru Evaluare și Strategie & Institutul de Sociologie al Academiei Române.
  60. Wojtasik, Ł. (2014). Sexting among children and adolescents. The abused child. Theory, research, practice, 13(2), 79-98.
  61. Woo, K. S., Bong, S. H., Choi, T. Y., & Kim, J. W. (2021). Mental Health, Smartphone Use Type, and Screen Time Among Adolescents in South Korea. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 14, 1419. doi: 10.2147/prbm.s324235 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S324235
  62. Yellowlees, P. M., & Marks, S. (2007). Problematic Internet use or Internet addiction? Computers in human behavior, 23(3), 1447-1453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2005.05.004
  63. Zych, I., Beltrán-Catalán, M., Ortega-Ruiz, R., & Llorent, V. J. (2018). Competencias sociales y emocionales de adolescentes involucrados en diferentes roles de bullying y cyberbullying. Revista de Psicodidáctica, 23(2), 86-93. doi:10.1016/j.psicod.2017.12.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psicod.2017.12.001
  64. Zych, I., Farrington, D. P., & Ttofi, M. M. (2019). Protective factors against bullying and cyberbullying: A systematic review of meta-analyses. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 45, 4-19. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2018.06.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.06.008

How to Cite

Tomczyk, Łukasz, & Szotkowski, R. (2023). Sexting, fear of missing out (FOMO), and problematic social network use among adolescents. Human Technology, 19(2), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-2.8