One in five teenagers have had explicit images shared without their consent, study finds

The sending of sexually explicit images and experiencing non-consensual sharing of such images is particularly damaging and can lead to self-harm, particularly among girls, the study found.

Almost 20% of 15-16 year-olds have had an explicit image of them shared without their consent, while the growth of sexting is leading to poorer mental health and increased risk of self-harm.

The health of teenage girls in particular is being severely impacted by high social media use and body dissatisfaction, according to a study by experts from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.