It all began with the digital camera. Then came the camera phone, which, when combined with instant uploads, internet access and texting, made the phenomenon widespread. Now with the Snapchat application, no one is safe. Dick pics, and the lesser known twat shot, have permeated our culture at the deepest levels, from politicians like Anthony Weiner to athletes like Brett Favre. Celebrities have admitted to sending the pics to far-away girlfriends or interested groupies. But how have dick pics contributed to Wash. U.’s sex scene?

“It’s funny, I guess. I got one today from my brother as a birthday gift,” said Luke, a freshman, when asked about his reaction to dick pics. Jake, another freshman, sent someone a dick pic because “he sent me a picture of his balls. It was late at night. We were both drunk. This was my best friend from home, so it wasn’t the first time we saw each other’s balls.” The best friend then captured the picture via Snapchat and texted it back to Jake, telling him to “be careful.” Many of the heterosexual young men interviewed mentioned sending pictures of other parts of their genitalia, aside from dick pics. “I’ve sent a gooch pic,” said Daniel, freshman. The gooch is the area from the ball sack to the ass-crack. “I thought the person deserved something in return for sending me a dick pic. It wasn’t gay; it was a joke,” continued Daniel. Those interviewed also mentioned “piss pics” (of a man peeing), ball sack pics and ass cheek pics. None of the boys ever asked for the pictures. “It just happens,” said Luke.

So why do men send them? According to Ryan, a freshman, guys send each other dick pics “because they’re begging for compliments on their dicks…Guys can’t compare dicks like girls compare tits; they can’t just pull them out because they’re not that confident in their heterosexuality. The photo acts like a barrier.” Jake claimed the Snapchatting was more casual: “I don’t know; I was drunk. No good reason. Do I want to send a dick pic to a dude? No. Not my first intention.” Daniel, however, found personal interest in the dick pics: “I was appalled and then fascinated by the male genitalia. I don’t see dicks on the regular, so I was just like, ‘What the f*** is that?’”

Gay men seemed less enthused by dick pic culture. Freshman Greg received an unexpected dick pic once. “It ended the conversation pretty quickly,” he said. Sophomore Drake agreed: “I think, because of the circumstances, it was more of a turnoff. There wasn’t any build-up in the conversation before the dick pic.” Drake admitted to sending “suggestive Snapchats…like boxer briefs, shirtless, etc.” but no visible genitalia. Only one of the gay men interviewed had ever been asked for a dick pic; the request came “because I’m hot,” said John, a freshman.

Women’s reactions to dick pics ranged from “Why on earth would you want me to see that?” from Anne, a sophomore, to “definitely positive” from Sarah, a junior. Those with positive dick pic experiences were usually in a sexting relationship. “It felt good to receive pics in exchange for pics,” said Lucy, a freshman. Sarah was also into the dick pics because she asked for them; “it was appropriate at the time.” Other girls didn’t always have success with receiving wanted dick pics: “I just wanted to see if it would work,” said Tracy, a senior, who asked a male friend for a dick pic. Tracy, however, never got her prize. “They didn’t really say no. They just made a joke about it,” she said. None of the women, however, responded as Daniel expected; “Girls f******* love that s***.”

Only two of the women had sent the female version of a dick pic: the twat shot. “I’ve gotten asked for that. It’s just like, ‘No, I don’t want to do that,’” said Carol, who had never sent a twat shot. “I don’t think girls do it as much because for guys, it’s not that big of a deal. When a girl does it, everyone wants to see it.,” said Haley, a freshman, who expressed fears of the twat shot exchanging hands.

Men were equally as wary about twat shots. “Don’t want that on my phone,” said sophomore Allen. Agreed Carl, a senior, “I’d probably be pretty confused” upon receiving a twat shot. Jake professed disgust at the idea, saying, “I don’t know why guys find vaginas attractive; they’re scarier looking [than dicks]. It’s like a cave and you don’t know what’s inside it. It could be teeth.” Another freshman, Ryan, disagreed slightly: “I think the penis and scrotum anatomy is lacking. There’s just a lot of skin going on down there, and it’s not cool. The female body, though, is beautiful naked.”

Women found the image of dicks no sexier. Kelsey, a sophomore girl, summed up they way most females feel about penises when she said, “As part of a work of art they’re not bad, but I still don’t want one in my living room.” Humor was a common reaction as well. “I always think it’s hilarious,” said Carol. Haley also had a laughable dick pic experience: “It was just so small.”

So, if the mood is right and someone has asked for a dick pic, what’s a guy to do? “Lighting,” said Daniel. “Always number one. You’ve got to get the lighting, you’ve got to look like you care, and you’ve got to have a cute little message.” Ari, a junior, emphasized the angle of the shot: “Depending on the angle of the curvature of the dick, it should be taken to lengthen and widen the dick.” The hardness of the dick was also an important factor, according to Jake. “Being hard would be a little weird. You want the middle ground, though, because you’re trying to look as big as possible,” he said. “You probably don’t want your face in it.” Luke had perhaps the most poignant suggestion: “The element of surprise.”