Restless Virgins...Is Teen Sexting Normal?

Restless Virgins

In the article Risky Behavior and Adolescent Development, researchers seek to answer if risky teen behavior such as sexting is normal or indicative of other risky sexual behaviors. I recently watched a film that is based off the real life scandal sex video scandal that occurred in 2005 at Milton Academy prep school in New England. Founded 200 years ago, Milton Academy is one of the most prestigious prep schools in New England. The Lifetime film follows the main protagonist Emily, the editor for the school newspaper. Emily is from a middle class family, and thus unlike most everyone at the school because she is on a scholarship and is a social outcast. Emily leaks a video to the school newspaper that involves five members of the varsity lacrosse team receiving oral sex from a minor. The varsity lacrosse players wanted to film the event and pass it along to the junior lacrosse members as a parting "gift".

The article does not definitively draw a conclusion on whether or not risky behavior is a normal part of development. In certain ways, I believe the not thinking through situation is  normal, especially for teens or young adults. Teens do not always understand consequences of certain actions. In this film, the boys did not anticipate the potential leakage of the film and therefore thought it would be completely acceptable to engage in the behavior. Furthermore, Emily did not foresee the consequences of releasing sexually explicit materials to a school newspaper, and thus was speechless when she realized such actions would result in her expulsion. Although Temple et. al., note that some studies found correlation between teen sexting and risky sexual behavior, this does not indicate whether the behavior is simply part of growing up. I realize that this is a fictional movie, however I think it is unlikely, but plausible, that this could happen at the college or university level. I would almost expect something like that to happen in a high school, because of the social setting.  I agree with argument contended by Temple et. al., in that risky sexual behavior may be linked other risky behaviors.  Is it possible that social settings factor into sexting culture. Some high schools fosters a social environment pits groups against one another, so when I hear of a sexting scandal erupting in a  high school, it does not seem far fetched. Future research should examine at which age sexting is most common.  

Watch the full movie here!

Stasi, L (2013). ‘Restless virgins’ is based on a true scandalous story. New York Post http://nypost.com/2013/03/08/restless-virgins-is-based-on-a-true-scandalous-story/

Temple, J. R., Le, V. D., Peskin, M., Markham, C. & Tortolero, S. (2014). Risky behavior and adolescent development. In T. C. Hiestand & W. J. Weins (Eds.), Sexting and youth: A multidisciplinary examination of research, theory, and law (pp. 77-94). Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.