A Beginner’s Guide to the Art of Sexting

A Beginner’s Guide to the Art of Sexting

In the age of Coronavirus, we’re becoming more digitally-connected than ever before. If this brave new virtual world has you wondering whether or not you should give sexting a try for the first time, here’s a solid introduction to act – and how to get the most out of it.

Let me begin by saying, sexting is totally normal. Maybe you don’t currently do it, but you’d be in the minority if that’s the case. In 2013, Scientific American wrote that 50 per cent of people “used their mobile device” to engage in intimate texts, emails, or photos.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/08/a-guide-to-hands-free-sex-toys/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/12/Sex-1-410×231.jpg” title=”The Best Touch-Free Sex Toys In Australia” excerpt=”The chances are you already own a sex toy ” a trusty favourite that works for you, whether it’s a wand, a bells-and-whistles rabbit or a buzzing bullet vibe. And while some lucky women orgasm through penetration, for most it’s the clitoris that holds the key to orgasmic bliss.”]

While it’s common, however, that doesn’t mean that people don’t hold reservations about getting a little nasty over the phone. People have concerns about very real issues like revenge porn, and that’s fair enough. Just remember, you never have to engage in anything you’re not comfortable with, but if you’d like to give sexting a try, make sure you’re doing it with someone you trust, make consent a big part of the conversation, and perhaps avoid photos if you’re unsure.

Now to get to the other question many have about sexting: “Am I doing it right?” Here are some responses I got from a variety of friends, co-workers, and acquaintances about their sexting habits that will help you figure that out.

To nude or not to nude

Most people agree that they will not send a nude containing their face. The only man who has ever sent me nudes he could be easily identified from had also worked in porn, so his shit was already out there. Though people in close relationships might send nudes to each other, when it came to the more casual nude, several people said they’d be more likely to send it to a stranger than someone they know in real life.

I asked why and was told:

“Eh I just feel like, what is some dude I slept or texted with casually gonna do with a pic that doesn’t have my face on it?”

“Whereas someone I know, idk, it could somehow be seen by mutual acquaintances where it’s less anonymous.”

A woman friend who is transgender explained she has tiers for how many nudes go to strangers depending on that person’s gender identity:

“No nude pics with my face unless it’s with a partner or another trans person (our bond is deep).”

“Only like one nude for a cis guy I’m trying to seduce because too much and they lose interest. (Read: they masturbate and wander off).”

“Never trust fast invitations for sexts from a cis lady on a dating app because it is 100% a cis dude who wants pics.”

She says she’s more comfortable sexting with someone she’s dating but is game to try it with anyone interested because “I like sending pictures of my boobs!”

Which brings me to:

What you get out of it

There are lots of reasons why people sext. One woman told me she occasionally sends nudes to a friend she’s never engaged with sexually. This is because “He just appreciates them and I like compliments.”

A guy told me that sexting is basically like choose your own adventure pornography.

“I enjoy it more than just like watching porn if I’m gonna be doing something sexual by myself, it’s more interactive which I enjoy rather than just passively consuming something.”

For people in long-term or long-distance relationships, it’s a way to keep the sex stuff exciting, though there is maybe more to work out when you’re doing it consistently. One person said, “My girlfriend uses her phone for work a lot, so we keep anything truly salacious to live (unrecorded) video chats.”

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/06/an-expert-guide-to-taking-nude-selfies/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/11/Selfie2-410×231.jpg” title=”An Expert’s Guide To Taking Nude Selfies” excerpt=”Taking selfies in the buff is usually a bad idea. Whether it’s intended for a sexual partner, an art portfolio or your own rampant ego, there’s a lot that can go wrong — just ask Jennifer Lawrence. But if you’re determined to shoot photos of your own junk, you should at least make it look as presentable as possible. The following tips are guaranteed to make your naked bits shine.”]

The rules

Once you know where you stand on nudes, there aren’t too many rules to work out. The depth of a relationship seems to have almost no bearing on whether or not someone will sext, but it does change how long it will go on for.

“I used to have a couple of people I only sexted with, but I got bored fast,” someone told me.

But here are some things people were adamant about:

“Consent before sending. And then the dirtiest shit imaginable.”

“I do have a no dick pic rule prior to seeing your dick in real life.”

That was basically it. Consent is sexy, even via text.

Tone

If you’re on dating apps looking for a sext partner, taking a direct approach is usually best. Something I’ve encountered on dating apps an embarrassing amount (for them, not me) are people who want to sext, but go through the whole show of chatting you up and asking you out, before saying, “So, what are you into?”

If you indulge this question, they will inevitably ghost before you ever meet up; or to quote my friend above, “They masturbate and wander off.”

I’m not disappointed to never meet a person who does this, but it is an annoying waste of time. If you just want to sext, it’s pretty obvious there are plenty of other people interested, so you can be more direct. It’s when you’ve actually met and are dating someone that things get trickier.

If you’ve not yet engaged in sexual contact, consider holding off. Someone who hasn’t even kissed you yet probably doesn’t want your first experience together to come via iPhone messenger. And if you have engaged in sexual contact, texting, “Blah blah was really hot last night” is an excellent opportunity to explore what else you both think is hot.

It’s still pretty easy to get in your head about what to say, so I’ll just share this block of incredible advice from a veteran sexter:

“Get into it! Don’t feel embarrassed or silly or self-consciousness. Of course if you read them back the next morning in the harsh light of day it will sound absurd, but so does everything in the realm of sex if you scrutinise it outside the heat of the moment. Use blunt, varied language, describe situations/fantasies/thoughts/emotions, strike the right balance between erotica and the mechanics if what you wish you were physically doing.”

Hell. Yes.

Just say no

I know I’ve been talking up sexting throughout this entire post, but it’s not for everyone. And that’s totally OK.

“I don’t know how and when I tell people I don’t know how they either lose interest or talk to me about regular stuff,” a friend told me.

“I’ve never thought about learning and find text messaging in general to be a chore.”

Sexting shouldn’t feel like a chore and it shouldn’t make you uncomfortable. In the end, it’s meant to be fun – so if you’re not feeling it you absolutely don’t need to do it.

Aimée Lutkin is a freelance writer who blogs a lot about dating. She is currently travelling the country and going on a date in every city she visits.

This article has been updated since its original publication.


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

Here are the cheapest plans available for Australia’s most popular NBN speed tier.

At Lifehacker, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Comments


One response to “A Beginner’s Guide to the Art of Sexting”