You won't believe it: One in four seniors is spicing up their love life with THIS modern tech trend
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While some grumble about the complexities of modern technology, it seems many people over 60s have taken the plunge into the deep waters of the digital world.
And no, we're not just talking about keeping up with the grandkids on Facebook. Hold onto your hats because, believe it or not, a surprisingly large number of seniors are sexting!
But first, what is it?
Sexting, a combination of ‘sex’ and ‘texting’, is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or images via mobile phones. Its goal is to share intimate or suggestive content with someone you trust and have a romantic or sexual relationship with.
It’s somewhat more common among younger people today, but that doesn’t mean seniors can’t join the party!
You see, new research reveals that one in four seniors aged 50-75 have engaged in intimate texting or sending racy photos.
A survey by software security company McAfee polled over 1,200 individuals aged 50-75 about their technology use.
Shockingly, 24 per cent admitted to sexting on their mobile phones.
‘So you'll want to think before you decide to use your parents' cell phones to make a call, especially as a third of them aren't putting password protection on their devices,’ the Huffington Post warned younger people.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), couples use sexting to spice up their relationship in a fun, easy and usually harmless way.
‘It's a misnomer that the biological changes of ageing have to lead to a decrease in sexuality and sexual experience,’ Suzanne Blake, a relationship coach, said.
‘[They] want sexual activity,’ she explained. ‘They want to flirt. It makes them feel lively and young.’
Another relationship and sexual health expert, Genie James, recommends sexting for older couples.
‘It also fits nicely into longtime couples' busy schedules to keep things spicy,’ she pointed out.
She added: ‘It's about setting the stage for sex and keeping passion alive. A cell phone is in your hands every day. You're already doing it.’
While sexting can add excitement to a relationship, it does come with risks—especially for those new to the online dating world after decades in long-term marriages.
In Australia, romance scams are becoming prevalent. Criminals would pose as romantic interests of lonely single men and then eventually convince them to invest in a business venture or loan them money.
In Queensland, for example, a mother and daughter duo was arrested after baiting multiple men in a romance scam and swindling them for $500,000. You can read the full story here.
Sextortion, or sexual extortion, is also very much a clear risk for seniors. It is done when a criminal manages to get ahold of sexual content provided by a victim (nude pictures, videos of intimate acts) in the guise of online intimacy and romance.
Once the victim unwittingly goes along with the trick, the criminals then spring the trap and threaten to leak the victim’s sensitive pictures or videos unless they pay a certain sum.
Consensual sexting between partners can improve intimacy when done safely. But take care when sexting new partners you meet online—it is still imperative that you protect your privacy.
If you’re keen on trying sexting, here are some tips for beginners:
And it's not just sexting—the study revealed that 80 per cent said they actively use social media like Facebook and X (Twitter) and spend 5 hours a day surfing the web.
Many respondents even revealed that they engage in risky online behaviour, like sharing personal information with strangers.
Over half of them (52 per cent) said they willingly posted their email address online, 27 per cent shared their mobile phone number, and 26 per cent revealed their home address.
McAfee's Security Expert Robert Siciliano remarked that older generations don’t fully realise the ‘hard consequences of sharing too much personal information’.
‘This can have serious consequences from the ending of friendships to exposure to physical harm,’ he explained.
The survey affirmed this as it revealed that 16 per cent claimed that they saw ‘something negative’ on social media that caused a rift between friends, spouses or partners.
More than that, 97 per cent of the respondents aged 50-75 said they went online daily. While most of them access the internet by desktop computers, 40 per cent use their smartphones or tablets to access their social media.
As thrilling as it can be to meet people online, don't let your guard down. Follow basic online safety precautions to protect your privacy and personal information.
What do you think of this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
And no, we're not just talking about keeping up with the grandkids on Facebook. Hold onto your hats because, believe it or not, a surprisingly large number of seniors are sexting!
But first, what is it?
Sexting, a combination of ‘sex’ and ‘texting’, is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or images via mobile phones. Its goal is to share intimate or suggestive content with someone you trust and have a romantic or sexual relationship with.
It’s somewhat more common among younger people today, but that doesn’t mean seniors can’t join the party!
You see, new research reveals that one in four seniors aged 50-75 have engaged in intimate texting or sending racy photos.
A study revealed that one in four seniors engage in sexting. Credit: SHVETS production/Pexels
A survey by software security company McAfee polled over 1,200 individuals aged 50-75 about their technology use.
Shockingly, 24 per cent admitted to sexting on their mobile phones.
‘So you'll want to think before you decide to use your parents' cell phones to make a call, especially as a third of them aren't putting password protection on their devices,’ the Huffington Post warned younger people.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), couples use sexting to spice up their relationship in a fun, easy and usually harmless way.
‘It's a misnomer that the biological changes of ageing have to lead to a decrease in sexuality and sexual experience,’ Suzanne Blake, a relationship coach, said.
‘[They] want sexual activity,’ she explained. ‘They want to flirt. It makes them feel lively and young.’
Another relationship and sexual health expert, Genie James, recommends sexting for older couples.
‘It also fits nicely into longtime couples' busy schedules to keep things spicy,’ she pointed out.
She added: ‘It's about setting the stage for sex and keeping passion alive. A cell phone is in your hands every day. You're already doing it.’
While sexting can add excitement to a relationship, it does come with risks—especially for those new to the online dating world after decades in long-term marriages.
In Australia, romance scams are becoming prevalent. Criminals would pose as romantic interests of lonely single men and then eventually convince them to invest in a business venture or loan them money.
In Queensland, for example, a mother and daughter duo was arrested after baiting multiple men in a romance scam and swindling them for $500,000. You can read the full story here.
Sextortion, or sexual extortion, is also very much a clear risk for seniors. It is done when a criminal manages to get ahold of sexual content provided by a victim (nude pictures, videos of intimate acts) in the guise of online intimacy and romance.
Once the victim unwittingly goes along with the trick, the criminals then spring the trap and threaten to leak the victim’s sensitive pictures or videos unless they pay a certain sum.
Consensual sexting between partners can improve intimacy when done safely. But take care when sexting new partners you meet online—it is still imperative that you protect your privacy.
If you’re keen on trying sexting, here are some tips for beginners:
And it's not just sexting—the study revealed that 80 per cent said they actively use social media like Facebook and X (Twitter) and spend 5 hours a day surfing the web.
Many respondents even revealed that they engage in risky online behaviour, like sharing personal information with strangers.
Over half of them (52 per cent) said they willingly posted their email address online, 27 per cent shared their mobile phone number, and 26 per cent revealed their home address.
McAfee's Security Expert Robert Siciliano remarked that older generations don’t fully realise the ‘hard consequences of sharing too much personal information’.
‘This can have serious consequences from the ending of friendships to exposure to physical harm,’ he explained.
The survey affirmed this as it revealed that 16 per cent claimed that they saw ‘something negative’ on social media that caused a rift between friends, spouses or partners.
More than that, 97 per cent of the respondents aged 50-75 said they went online daily. While most of them access the internet by desktop computers, 40 per cent use their smartphones or tablets to access their social media.
As thrilling as it can be to meet people online, don't let your guard down. Follow basic online safety precautions to protect your privacy and personal information.
What do you think of this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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