Washington - One in five teen girls (22%), and almost one in five teen boys (18%) say they have sent or posted online nude or semi-nude images of themselves, according to a survey of 1,280 teens and young adults conducted by TRU for The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com.

Additionally, one-third (33%) of teen boys and one-quarter (25%) of teen girls say they have had nude or semi-nude images -- originally meant to be private -- shared with them.

Among young adults ages 20-26, 36% of women and 31% of men say they have sent or posted such images.

Nearly one-quarter of teens (22%) said that technology makes them personally more forward and aggressive; 38% said exchanging sexy content makes dating or hooking up with others more likely, and 29% said those exchanging sexy content are "expected" to date or hook up.

"That so many young people say technology is encouraging an even more casual, hook-up culture is reason for concern, given the high rates of teen and unplanned pregnancy in the United States," said Marisa Nightingale of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

"Parents should understand that their own notions of what's public, what's private, and what's appropriate, may differ greatly from how teens and young adults define these concepts."

Sending sexually suggestive messages is even more prevalent, with 39% of teens and 59% of young adults admitting they have sent such texts or emails to someone.

While 73% of teens and young adults say sending sexually suggestive content "can have serious negative consequences," another 22% say it is "no big deal."

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/7qxys

http://www.tru-insight.com

http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech

http://www.cosmogirl.com/sexsurvey