Sexting, Digital Dissent and Narratives of Innocence - Controlling the Child's Body

Title
Sexting, Digital Dissent and Narratives of Innocence - Controlling the Child's Body
Publication Date
2015
Author(s)
Simpson, Brian H
Editor
Editor(s): Sampson Lee Blair, Patricia Neff Claster & Samuel M Claster
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Place of publication
Bingley, United Kingdom
Edition
1
Series
Sociological Studies of Children and Youth
DOI
10.1108/S1537-466120150000019011
UNE publication id
une:21539
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the narratives that construct the practice and regulation of 'sexting', the sending of sexualised images via text message, when engaged in by young people. The aim of this discussion is to better understand the extent to which those narratives recognise young people's agency in relation to their sexuality and the role that new media plays in enabling youth to explore their sexual identity. Methodology The methodology employed is that of discourse analysis. This approach is used to deconstruct the dominant narrative of sexting contained in the literature, a narrative that constructs it as a problem to be contained and controlled, either through the application of the criminal law or through education and guidance approaches. This paper then investigates an emerging counter narrative that gives greater emphasis to the autonomy rights of youth. A case study involving a Parliamentary Inquiry in one Australian State into sexting is also employed to further this analysis. Findings This paper concludes that the dominant narrative remains the strongest influence in the shaping of law and the practice of sexting, but that young people may be better served by the counter narrative that recognises their agency in ways that may empower and grant them more control over their bodies. Originality/Value The paper thus provides an alternative approach to developing new law and policy with respect to the regulation of sexting by youth that should be of value to lawmakers and child and youth advocates.
Link
Citation
Technology and Youth: Growing Up in a Digital World, p. 315-349
ISBN
9781785602641
9781785602658
Start page
315
End page
349

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