The role of social networking and messaging apps in adolescent exposure to sexually explicit materials: A 14-day window into adolescent smartphone usage

Despite nudity policies in social media, adolescents still encounter sexually explicit materials (SEM) using them on their smartphones. It is unclear whether social networking (i.e., consumption of content) or messaging (i.e., receiving such content from others) contributes to exposure in smartphones. Research mainly investigates between-person differences instead of individual fluctuations in media use over time, and app use is often measured by self-report. Following the Integrative model of ICT effects on adolescents’ well-being, we collected objective time spent in social networking and messaging apps via smartphone research app to test whether its usage contributes to self-reported daily exposure to SEM for 14 days (N=201, 13-17 years, 41% girls, 1,383 observations). We investigated (1) the relationship between the use of social networking and messaging apps and exposure to sexually explicit materials; (2) the role of participants’ gender, age, sensation seeking, and permissive attitudes; and (3) whether gender and age moderate the relationship. Generally, social networking and messaging apps are not a significant source of sexual exposure; however, boys who use messaging apps have higher odds of exposure compared to girls. Our results have important theoretical and methodological contributions for studying adolescent smartphone usage and sexual exposure and are relevant for parents and educators.