Study: almost half of young French people have already received an intimate image

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In France, 18-29 year-olds are, by far, the age group that exchanges the most intimate images, according to a study conducted by ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and Santé Publique France.

The objective of this vast survey, conducted among 31,518 people in metropolitan France and overseas territories, is to understand the changes in sexual representations and practices in France, in a context marked by social, economic, legal and technological transformations.

Thus, she examines how these changes influence sexual trajectories, inequalities in access to health resources, and the link between sexuality and health at different ages.

A figure that varies greatly depending on the age group

She focused in particular on sexual practices in the digital age. In France, 13.8% of women and 17.9% of men aged 18 to 89 have already sent an intimate image. But this figure differs drastically depending on the age group, with young adults being much more affected by this phenomenon.

36.6% of women and 39.6% of men aged 18-29 have already sent an intimate image, while 47.8% of women and 53.6% of men of this age have already received one.

© ANSR

Variability of consent

The survey shows marked differences in consent to receive intimate images according to gender. 54.8% of women and 68.7% of men said they explicitly consented, while 28.7% of women and 6.3% of men did not consent.

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Similarly, women’s level of consent varies depending on the sender, reaching 77% for a spouse, but only 22.4% for a stranger, while for men, it remains relatively stable, even with strangers (57.2%).

Finally, harmful experiences online (receiving unsolicited intimate or sexual messages or images, unwittingly sharing images intimate) concern 13.1% of women and 12.8% of men, with a higher prevalence among those under 30, affecting one in three women and one in four men.

« These harmful experiences are logically more common among young people given their greater presence in digital spaces, but they can occur at any age and they affect almost as many men as women after the age of 30 ”, note the authors of the study.

Dating apps more used among young people

The researchers also noted a stronger, and logical, appetite for dating apps among young users. In 2023, 17.9% of women and 23.7% of men had already met a partner through a site or application. This figure rises to 39.4% of women under 30 and 43.5% of men of the same age.

The study should provide key indicators to guide public policies on sexual health by 2030.

• A large study looked at sexual practices in France, particularly in the digital age.
• Nearly half of 18-29 year-olds have already received an intimate image, which is much more than other age groups.
• Consent to receive these images varies depending on the sender, particularly among women.

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