Behind Nonconsensual Sexting Among Adolescents: Victim-to-Perpetrator Dynamic and the Moderating Roles of Empathy and Toxic Online Disinhibition

Abstract

Social networks have become integral to adolescent communication, with sexting—defined as the exchange of sexual content—emerging as a common practice. While consensual sexting is often viewed as a form of sexual expression, nonconsensual sexting represents a significant type of digital violence. This study examined the relationship between NCS victimization and perpetration among adolescents and explored the moderating roles of empathy and toxic online disinhibition, considering differences by gender and age group. This cross-sectional study collected data in 2023 from 2488 Spanish cisgender adolescents (50.1% girls and 49.9% boys) aged 11–18 (M = 14.07, SD = 1.39). Self-report questionnaires were administered to measure nonconsensual sexting victimization and perpetration, empathy, and toxic online disinhibition. A regression-based moderation analysis was performed to explore the interactions between these variables. The model indicated a positive association between nonconsensual sexting victimization and perpetration among adolescents. Furthermore, both empathy and toxic online disinhibition significantly moderated this relation. Multigroup analyses indicated that the moderating effect of empathy weakened the victimization–perpetration link, but only among boys, while toxic online disinhibition strengthened it, but only in earlier adolescents. These findings underscore the importance of developmentally and gender-sensitive prevention programs that address both risk and protective factors involved in nonconsensual sexting.