Att “sexta” innebär att med textbaserade digitala medier kommunicera med sexuella partners, vilket är en praktik som kan upplevas väldigt intim trots mediets begränsningar av de karaktäristiska dragen av en fysisk interaktion. Denna studie har som syfte att ge en övergripande bild över hur denna typ av interaktion konstrueras och tar sig uttryck, vilket görs i en tredelad undersökning som fokuserar på kommunikationsmönsterna och hur dessa reflekteras över. Det empiriska materialet utgörs av 18 bidrag insamlade via en nätbaserad deltagande observation, 2 kvalitativa intervjuer och 56 svarande på en nätbaserad enkät. Genom ett självselektivt urval avgränsades den studerade gruppen till i huvudsak informanter med en medianålder på 27 år med erfarenheter av heterosexuella relationer. Det studien visar är att den distansering och begränsning denna kommunikation innebär oftast möjliggör förmågan hos informanterna att uttrycka sig friare än i en interaktion ansikte mot ansikte. Samtidigt värderas ändå den fysiska interaktionen högre då denna är mer “på riktigt”. Med begreppet digital sexuell kommunikation (DSK) har vi också ämnat klargöra och definiera det forskningsområde som denna studie genomförts inom, vilket kombinerar medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap med det sexualpsykologiska fältet. / “Sexting” is the communication between sexual partners through textbased digital media, which is a practice that can be experienced as very intimate despite the mediums limitations of the characteristics of a physical interaction. The purpose of this study is to offer a comprehensive overview of how this type of interaction is constructed and expressed, which has been conducted through a three-parted examination of the specifics of these communication patterns and how they are reflected upon. The empirical data consists of 18 contributions collected through a netbased participatory observation, 2 qualitative interviews and 56 respondents of a netbased survey. Through a method of selfselection the informant group was generated and constricted to mainly informants of an average age of 27 with experiences of heterosexual relations. What the study concludes is that the distance and limitation of this type of communication often contributes to a sense of a more liberated way of expression than what is possible in a face-to-face interaction. Yet the informants value the physical type of interaction higher as this is seen as more “real”. With the term digital sexual communication (DSC) we also aim to clarify and define the research area in which we conduct this study, which combines the science of media & communication with the field of sexual psychology.

Yiguan is a new-emerging mobile application which is popular in China. Different from the traditional social media, Yiguan enables users to have interaction and communications anonymously online. Compared to other anonymous social media, Yiguan is nether proximity-based nor tie-based. The identity of Yiguan users can be completely anonymous. Users will not have a personal profile and home pages on Yiguan. Anonymity makes it possible that users wear masks when they present themselves and interact with others. It is possible for them to get rid of the constraint, escaping from repetitive everyday life. This thesis based on the empirical qualitative research, conduct an audience analysis on Yiguan’s users. I’d like to explore what users do on Yiguan and how they utilize the space of Yiguan. This thesis wishes to identify the activities of users on Yiguan, and explore the characteristics of user’s activities. Combing the critical theories from Mead, Goffman, and Walther, this thesis will provide a vivid sketch of users on Yiguan.