‘Transactional Sexting’ and the ‘Sponsor’ Factor among Middle Level College Students in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Sexting, which involves use of smartphones to create and share sexually explicit and implicit content, is on the rise among the youth in Kenya. Though there is limited scientific evidence, it is believed that sexting takes place in transactional sex. Therefore, this study explored the experiences and perspectives of college students on how sexting messages are exchanged in transactional sexual relationships. The study adopted qualitative research approach and multiple case study method. Convenience sampling strategy was used to select five colleges, from which a sample of 65 students, aged 18-25 years, was drawn through purposive and snowball techniques. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to generate the data. The interviews and FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. The findings of the study suggest that sexting that involves the sender creating and sharing sexually explicit/implicit text messages and photographs in ‘sponsor’ and cougar relationships is perceived to be common and practiced by some students. The word ‘transactional sexting’ was coined to denote this phenomenon. This article concludes that the merge of transactional sex and sexting is complex and multifaceted. Both transactional sex and sexting are associated with grave consequences and reflect existing power structures, and changing technological and social values. Therefore, the study recommends the development of intervention programmes that address the negative consequences, existing patriarchal power structures and promote positive social behaviour change.