Poll Names 'Sexting' Most Annoying Tech Word

Under a new Rhode Island law enacted July 12, anyone younger than 18 who creates and sends sexually explicit images of themselves will be charged with a status offense. CREDIT: Dreamstime View full size image

"Sexting" has been voted the most annoying new tech word added to the dictionary over the last few years, according to a new poll.

"Sexting"– which means "the sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages by mobile phone" – topped an online poll conducted by YouGov for Computeractive magazine to become the "most annoying or horrible" new tech-related word in the dictionary, bringing in about 24 percent of the votes.The poll surveyed of 2,054 adults in the U.K.

"Sexting" earned almost twice as many as "intexticated," which placed second with 13 percent of the votes. "Intexticated" means unable to concentrate while driving due to texting. Tech words "Defriend," "Twittersphere" and "Tweetup" rounded out the top five, respectively. [Read: Teen Sexting Linked to Sexual Activity, Thoughts of Suicide]

"'Sexting' is a worthy winner," said Paul Allen, editor of Computeractive. "[It's] truly a word to make you want to bang your head on the keyboard."

This story was provided by TechNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Reach TechNewsDaily senior writer Samantha Murphy at smurphy@techmedianetwork.com. Follow her on Twitter @SamMurphy_TMN.