Erotic and titillating, communicating with sexy messages with your partner throughout the day can help keep your love life spicy, but how cautious do we have to be about sending intimate notes and photos via our phones?
Being away from your partner for a length of time can inspire you to go a little further than you normally would, according to sex therapists and experts. People want to keep the fire burning but also want to feel wanted while alone and increase the desire ahead of what could be a passionate reconnection.
However, sexting is not without risk, they add.
"You never know what the person will do afterwards with this nude photo of you," sexologist Alexandra Hubin told RTBF. "After a breakup that goes wrong, for example, could the ex not take revenge? The direst situation is that our photos end up on the Internet. I strongly recommend not to photograph any part that would allow you to be recognised."
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Whether it is a tattoo, jewellery, or your face, it is better to remain anonymous, because if the photos are (mis)used, it can cause serious psychological and social damage, Hubin added.
Additionally, sending nudes does not appeal to everyone, which is why she advises people to never feel pressured to send pictures of themselves. "You can ask yourself this question: is it exciting for me to send or to receive this kind of photo?” she said. “It can be sexy, but it can also have the opposite effect for those who receive them, especially if they do not expect it.”
It is essential to ensure that both sender and receiver are on the same wavelength. “You do not have to say yes if you do not feel like it,” Hubin stressed. “There is this notion of consent. It is also out of the question to send this type of photo to someone who does not want to receive them. We can ask the question: would you like to receive this photo? If the answer is no, then don’t send it either.”
