“What Am I Supposed to Be?”: Embodied Tensions of Sexual Scripts in Adolescents’ Anonymous Chat Inquiries

This qualitative study analyzes 191 anonymized chat transcripts from Israeli adolescents aged 11–18 on a confidential-digital health platform. Using Sexual Script Theory and thematic content analysis, the study identifies four key themes in how adolescents construct and negotiate sexual meaning: (1) age and timing as indicators of sexual readiness, (2) the desire for mastery and control, (3) struggles with sexual orientation and the limits of representation, and (4) gendered roles and communication barriers. Findings reveal how anonymous chats reflect both internalized cultural scripts and emotional tensions—positioning these platforms as critical spaces for exploring adolescent sexuality and agency.