MARABÚ JOURNAL · SENSORY CULTURE
Sexting describes the exchange of intimate messages or images. In a discussion between adults, the first questions should concern consent and privacy, not pressure to make a conversation more explicit.
Trust does not restore control over a file once it has been shared. Choosing not to send one is a valid decision.
Receiving also requires agreement
Before sending intimate content, establish that it is welcome. Being in a relationship or having had an earlier conversation does not automatically mean someone wants sexual messages now.
There is no obligation to respond with an image of your own. Consent is not a debt and should not be used as a test of affection.
An app cannot promise complete control
Temporary messages and privacy settings should not be treated as proof that a file will disappear. INCIBE explains the loss-of-control risks associated with sexting.
Consider the possibility that something may be retained or seen outside its intended context. Not sending intimate material avoids that particular risk created by sharing it.
Permission to receive is not permission to distribute
A private exchange does not authorise showing a file to friends, forwarding it or publishing it. The intended context matters.
The end of a relationship does not turn private material into a tool for pressure or revenge. Another person’s privacy remains worthy of respect.
Recognise pressure for what it is
Repeated requests after a refusal, demands for proof of trust or threats to end a relationship are not a free conversation.
You can stop responding and seek support. You do not need an elaborate explanation for declining to create or share intimate content.
Remember the wider digital identity
A file may reveal people, surroundings or identifying details beyond its main subject. INCIBE’s digital privacy guidance offers context for thinking about that exposure.
Caution must not become blame directed at someone whose content is distributed without permission. Responsibility belongs to the person who shares it without consent.
Closeness does not need digital proof
An intimate connection can be cared for without turning it into a file. Continue exploring communication and personal boundaries through the editorial world of Marabú Madrid, at a pace and level of privacy that suit you.