Sexting Replaces Dating Apps Among Romanian Youth, Study Finds

Young people in Romania are increasingly turning to social media and messaging apps for intimate communication, with sexting becoming more prevalent than traditional dating applications. A study by the Contraceptive and Sexual Education Society (SECS) found that 72.5% of respondents aged 12 to 26 have engaged in sexting.

The research, commissioned by the platform "Planifică Neprevăzutul" (Plan the Unforeseen), surveyed 404 young individuals. It revealed that nearly two-thirds (64.1%) have sent sexually suggestive messages, a significant increase from 17.1% in a similar 2018 study. Concurrently, only 12.6% of respondents reported still using dating apps, suggesting a major shift in how initial romantic and sexual interactions are initiated.

Psychologist Mihai Copăceanu suggests that social networks have become the new space for relationships, offering a perceived ease of identity verification through mutual friends or public information. The study also highlighted the exchange of intimate media, with over half of respondents sending or receiving sexual photos, and nearly a third sending sexual videos.

These findings raise questions about the evolving nature of socialization among younger generations. The move from dedicated dating platforms to private conversations on integrated social media like Instagram and Snapchat signifies a profound change in the landscape of youth relationships and communication.

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Social networks are the new space for relationships.