Teenagers and sex: between risk behaviors, online pornography and bodyhaming

Summary of the Content:

1. Perception and Schools of Sex vs. Reality for Teenagers
   In one in four teenagers (47% women and 55% men), it is known that sex occurs within online pornographic videos. Among these teenagers, 47% identified that they had sexual experiences: 66% who confirmed these incidents. These perceptions significantly differ from school teachings, where 66% agree that self-production of pornographic material can help satisfy some economic needs, such as self-mansion. However, only 37% of African American teenagers and 44% of Caucasians recognize the existence of sexist discrimination and objectification of orientation in schools. This highlights a gap between what teens view in the digital world versus what they receive in school.

2. Distance Between Virtual and Real Sex
   The synthesis of Save the Children’s investigation revealed that 26% of boys between 14-18 years old believe that pornography is a realistic representation of the sexual act. Additionally, 16% of adolescents did not detect any form of sexual discrimination or objectification besides mainstream sexism. Furthermore, 35% of boys (22 male, 13 female) found contradictions in their understanding of sexual identity. This indicates a skewed perception of real sexual experiences among teenagers, with many believing that sex takes place outside of live encounters.

3. Teleprompter Series and性别教育
   A teleprompter-style video titled Crush – The Story of Matilde was produced by Stand by me and Rai Kids (ANSA/RAIKIDS). This series aimed to educate teenagers on the importance of shedding harmful and oppressive stereotypes. The content emphasizes the need for mandatory paths of sexual education and emotional guidance in schools to aid in healthy relationships. However, media platforms heavily rely on online representations, which mayembeditionally inaccurate information. This phenomenon is often amplified by the urgent need for legislation to create comprehensive, UNESCO-/Data and standardized curricula for sexuality education, aligned with UNESCO’s objectives for comprehensive education and aiming for gender-agnostic school training plans.

4. Economies of Decision in Sexuality
   The findings emphasized the economic implications of sexual relationships: 82% of teenagers agree that self-production of pornographic material can help them satisfy some economic needs, as highlighted by a survey of 47% interviewees. STILL, 12% believe that the subjective value of pornography is the same as the act in real life. There is also a significant focus on how teenagers emerge emotionally from their experiences: 60% associateprimarily sexual warmth (love) with positive emotions, such as pleasure, and fear and shame with negative emotions, such as insecurity and anxiety. Stories of negative emotional undertones were reported by 18% of girls, with individuals stating anxiety ranging from mild to severe, with ages ranging from 12 to 18 years old. These findings underscore a disconnect between teens’ experiences in the digital age and how they describe themselves.

5. Parental Input and Young People’s Narratives
   The introduction of mandatory sexual education pathways in schools, which dates back to the teleprompter series, is crucial for addressing the direct concerns of parents. A significant 91% of parents attend schools where mandatory education on sexual and emotional education has been introduced. These initiatives demonstrate a bid to create intermediate pathways that bridge the gap between young people and their parents, fostering open communication and understanding. However, digital information remains a primary tool for accessing sexual education, which digital versions often succeed with limited access and negatively influences perception of the content. This reflects challenges in addressing the emotional and social issues girls face, despite increased access to resources and information.

6. The Role of Parents in Addressing Teenagers’ Perceptions
   Parents report confidence in discussing sexual and emotional issues with their children, as seen in the results of a survey of 75% of fathers and 71% of mothers, citing affordability as a key factor. However, only 40% of adults reported feeling comfortable discussing these topics with their children, though 35% felt comfortable talking to their own children. This highlights the need for ways to enhance communication in schools involving parents and teens, to better align their perspectives.