However, the study found no significant sex differences in the rate of sending or receiving sexts. Moreover, the prevalences of forwarding a sext without consent and having a sext forwarded without consent were 12.0 per cent and 8.4 per cent, respectively, said researchers including Sheri Madigan, Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary in Cada. The nonconsensual forwarding of sexts can lead to harassment by peers, cyberbullying, or blackmailing and in extreme cases lead to suicide. Thus the study, published in the jourl JAMA Pediatrics, stated that age-specific information on sexting and its potential consequences should regularly be provided as a component of sex education. Efforts and resources to crimilise sexts should be redirected to educatiol programs on digital citizenship and healthy relationships, the researchers said. (IANS)