Online Risk Practices in Spanish Adults During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Differences According to Gender, Age, and Living Situation

• Published in: Sexuality research & social policy 2023-12, Vol.20 (4), p.1599-1609
• Main Authors: Vázquez-Martínez, Andrea, Ejarque, Begoña Iranzo, Villanueva-Silvestre, Verónica, Martínez, Sandra Gómez, Folgar, Manuel Isorna, Villanueva-Blasco, Víctor José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Adults; Age; Age differences; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Consumption; COVID-19; Entertainment; Friendship; Gender; Gender differences; Gender inequality; Internet; Pornography; Pornography & obscenity; Prevention programs; Psychology; Risk; Sexual Behavior; Shelter in place; Shopping; Social contact; Social Sciences; Text messaging
• ISSN: 1868-9884; 1553-6610
• DOI: 10.1007/s13178-023-00857-5

Background During the COVID-19 lockdown, Internet use increased due to various reasons such as maintaining social contact, working remotely, studying online, shopping, and for entertainment. However, its use exposes risky practices. The objective of this study was to explore online risk practices in adults (sexting, sextortion, pornography consumption, and cybervictimization) during lockdown, considering gender, age, and living situation. Method 3,780 participants (70.1% women) aged 18–64 years (M = 37.8 years; SD = 12). Data were collected in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. Results Online risk practices were present regardless of gender, age, and living situation. However, based on these variables, a higher prevalence of certain online risk practices was found. Active sexting, passive sexting, and pornography consumption were more frequent in men; while the pressure to perform sexting was more present in women. Online risk practices decreased as age advanced, with the youngest (between 18 and 30 years) being the most likely to report active sexting, passive sexting, and pornography consumption. Likewise, the rates of active sexting, passive sexting, sextortion, and pornography consumption were higher in people aged 18–49 who lived with their friends or alone; while they were lower in people who lived with a partner or family. The pressure to engage in sexting was observed mostly in people aged 31–49 years who lived with friends. Conclusions Certain sexting practices, such as cyberbullying and pornography consumption, have a significant prevalence in the adult population. Policy Implications There is a need for preventive programs aimed at adults and adolescents, as well as policies that address gender equality and the Internet risks associated with affective-sexual behaviors.