Maybe "teen sexting" is not as bad a problem as previously reported, but what could be done about it?

A new research has found that only 2 per cent of teenagers send sex-related messages and/or naked photos of themselves using their mobile phones, as opposed to 20 per cent reported in 2008.

A research team member, Janis Wolak from the Crimes Against Children Research Centre, said the study involved more than 1,500 teens between the ages of 10 and 17. It was published in the medical journal Pediatrics.

"(W)e asked more details about the pictures that they sent and it was only 1 per cent of them that had sent pictures that were sexually explicit," Wolak said, noting not only was the number of teens sexting lower, but the ratio of those who go to as far as sending naked photos of themselves is slimmer still.

Lead author Kimberly Mitchell, an assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire, said the recent finding should reassure parents that texting is not as bad as previously perceived.

"I think our findings are reassuring to an extent," Mitchell told HealthDay News.

Nina Funnell, a social researcher writing a book on sexting, told ABC News she hopes the new research will lead to a more productive debate about sexting in Australia.

Funnell believes that on top of the general discussion on the act of sexting, something should be done to better guide the teens and discourage the practice all together.

Funnell further said, after several discussions on the issue, experts have not really arrived at a solid understanding of why sexting has become a practice at all. Without this understanding, she says, the debates are fruitless, and the teens continue to spread sexting among themselves.

Australian Federal Police has earlier run a program called ThinkUKnow in high schools nationwide. Their campaign featured "Megan's Story," which is a video uploaded to YouTube.

Megan sends a naked picture to a boy and it spreads around the class until it ends up on the teacher's phone, making her sink in devastation. The video sends out a simple message but does not say anything that sexters don't already know.

In 2009, News5 reported the story of an 18-year-old Cincinatti girl, who resorted to suicide after a naked photo she had sent to her boyfriend became accessible to schools in her area, and the general public. She was not able to contain her embarrassment.

Funnell challenges authorities to change their approach to the issue. She slams the use of the elements of shame and trust, when these could hardly affect a teenager tempted to copy friends their age who are probably sexting already.

Funnell also said it may be time for law reform. She notes that in the current system, a 16-year-old can legally have sex, but will be charged with child pornography if they send a naked picture.