15 percent of teens may be sexting

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. survey suggests 15 percent of teens who own cellphones have received text messages containing nude or nearly nude images of someone they know.

Four percent of teens, ages 12 to 18, who own cellphones say they've sent the images or videos of themselves to someone they know, the Pew Research Center said

"Teens explained to us how sexually suggestive images have become a form of relationship currency," said lead author Amanda Lenhart. "These images are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity, or as a way of starting or maintaining a relationship with a significant other. And they are also passed along to friends for their entertainment value, as a joke or for fun."

Teens in a Pew focus group said they feel pressured into sexting. "When I was about 14-15 years old, I received/sent these types of pictures," one of the girls wrote. "Boys usually ask for them or start that type of conversation. My boyfriend, or someone I really liked asked for them. And I felt like if I didn't do it, they wouldn't continue to talk to me."

Lenhart said teens who are heavy cell phone users are more likely to receive sexually suggestive images.

"The desire for risk-taking and sexual exploration during the teenage years combined with a constant connection via mobile devices creates a 'perfect storm' for sexting," said Lenhart.

The report, based on focus groups and the findings of a telephone survey of 800 teens, has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.