“It’s so normalised. Like, yeah, I got another nude today”: image-based online sexual interactions among emerging adults

As digital technologies continually change, types of negative online behaviours evolve, now covering a wide range of practices, motivations, and behaviours. Research shows that emerging adults are particularly vulnerable to image-based sexual abuse online. However, relatively little is known about emerging adults’ perceptions of and experience with image-based online sexual interactions. This study addresses the gap, focusing on the perception of university students aged 18 to 21, representing early emerging adulthood. The findings reveal that while early emerging adults actively engage in image-based online interactions as part of their socialisation, they also navigate associated risks through boundary negotiation, highlighting the need for open discussions and rights-based education on digital media interactions. The findings of this qualitative study provide important insights into how to approach and view emerging forms of online sexual interactions through a better understanding of how early-stage emerging adults perceive and experience the issue.