Sexting trend becoming increasingly common among teenagers

As the trend of sexting becomes increasingly common, teenagers are exchanging naked photos of themselves as a form of "insurance" to prevent their partners forwarding on saucy images.

According to the Daily Telegraph, University of NSW researcher Nina Funnell has spoken to hundreds of young people aged between 15 and 18 about their sexting habits for a book she is writing and found sexting is an accepted part of adolescent dating culture.

The ongoing two-year research project into sexting - sending sexually explicit messages, photos or videos via text message - has revealed the adolescents are aware that filming their sexual poses and behaviour is risky.

"The common idea is that young people are doing this as a response to pressure or they're brainwashed by popular culture," the Courier Mail quoted Funnell as saying.

"Young people I speak to don't say this. What I hear is it's about flirtation, pleasure and exploring their sexuality."

Funnell said that many students continued to "sext" even after finding out they risked criminal prosecution.

Deakin University psychology Professor Marita McCabe said teenagers have always "pushed the barriers" exploring their sexuality, now they're using technology.

"We would need to be careful about criminalising something that is consensual and not exploitative," added adolescent sexuality expert.