Digital Closeness, Real Dangers: Predictors of Online Sexual Behaviors, Solicitations, and Harassment Among Adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has profoundly transformed societal interactions, particularly among adolescents, whose daily lives and social engagements are increasingly mediated by digital platforms. However, this digital intimacy exposes adolescents to numerous risks. While much of the existing research on adolescents’ online behaviors and associated threats has focused on Western contexts, limited attention has been given to non-Western settings. This study addresses this gap by examining the online interactions and experiences of adolescents in Nigeria, with particular attention to their sexual behaviors and encounters with sexual solicitation and harassment. Survey data were collected from adolescents in eight secondary schools across two local government areas in a North Central state of Nigeria. Findings reveal that a substantial proportion of adolescents engage in sexual conversations with Internet-only contacts and share nude images. Factors such as gender, phone calls, face-to-face meetings, experiences of blackmail, and the frequency of parent-child discussions significantly predicted the likelihood of engaging in sexual conversations or sending nude pictures. Additionally, age, experiences of cyberbullying and harassment, and blackmail emerged as significant predictors of sexual solicitation and harassment. These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions that integrate sexual-risk digital citizenship education, promote parent-adolescent communication, and leverage technological tools to detect grooming behaviors and facilitate the reporting of online exploitation.