Teenagers today can be described in one word - social. That's because with cellphone in hand, they can interact with almost anyone via the internet or just through text. However, do people really know what's lies behind the now common cellphones that the youth so readily wields in their hands?

Sexting, which involves texting sexually explicit messages or images of one's self showing something private, is arguably, an epidemic among teenagers nowadays especially. Either sending sexually explicit content to someone they know or a complete stranger, sexting can almost all of the time, lead to child pornography, arrests, shame, guilt, and depression.

With such an alarming trend going around the youth, statistics is the first thing that people turn to for the actual magnitude of things.

But according to studies conducted by lead author Kimberly Mitchell, research assistant professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center, concerns about teen sexting may be overblown.

In one of the studies conducted, university researchers surveyed 1,560 internet users ages 10 to 17 about their experience with sexting, and found that only 2.5% of the youth that were surveyed have participated in sexting in the past year. And that only 1% that involved images that potentially violate child pornography laws because of images that showed parts of the body.

On the second study, which was based on a national sample of 675 sexting cases, researchers found that in most of these cases investigated by police, no juvenile arrest occurred. Cases where arrests were made, which happened in 36% of all the cases, involved aggravating activities by youth, such as using images for blackmail or harassment. While on the other hand, those without aggravating elements, the arrest rate was 18%.

With compelling figures coming from the University of New Hampshire, figures from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, found sexting rates to be shocking.

According to the organization, 39% of all teens are sending sexually suggestive messages, while 59% of all young adults are doing the same. In addition, 20% of all teens and 11% of young teen girls send nude or semi-nude pics or videos of themselves.

More often than not, based on findings, sexting occurs among those who are in a relationship, with 71% of teen girls and 67% of teen guys.

In addition to this staggering percentage, sexting also presents another danger - depression. Ximena Ramirez of Care2.com reported that a study found that those in high school who engage in sexting are more likely to experience symptoms of depression. This is beside the fact that sexting can be used for blackmail, bullying, and even suicide when things go out of hand.