曾经在坊间很是风靡的“黄色短信”因为传播太广、影响恶劣而使相关部门颁布法令予以禁止。在国外，很多青少年用手机在传送的可不仅限于“黄色短信”，他们还互发自己的艳照等私密文件。据说，他们这样做是为了表现好友之间的亲密无间。这种行为叫做sexting。

A combination of the words "sex" and "texting," the term “sexting” refers to the act of sending sexually explicit¹ text messages - or pictures of oneself - instantly over a mobile phone.

“性短信”（sexting）这个词是由sex（性）和texting（发短信）两个词组合而成的，指通过手机发送色情文字信息或者个人艳照的行为。

Sexting is a result of advances in technology enabling new forms of social interaction. Messages with sexual content have been exchanged over all forms of historical media. Newer technology allows photographs and videos, which are intrinsically more explicit and have greater impact. A social danger with sexting is that material can be very easily and widely promulgated², over which the originator has no control.

“性短信”是新的社交模式发展技术不断进步的结果。其实，带有色情内容的信息长久以来一直在各种传统媒介中传送。新兴的技术可以传送图片和视频，这使得信息内容更加直观，影响力也就更大。“性短信”带来的社会危害之一是短信内容可以被轻易地广泛传播，而始发送者对此却束手无策。