The effects of pornography on the emotional and sexual development of adolescents
Nearly 50% of Spanish teenagers and young adults between the ages of 16 and 29 report not having received quality sex education , either from their families or at school. This lack of information and guidance is, to some extent, compensated for by pornography, which they consider a useful resource for their sex education , easily accessible and free of charge in the digital world. But how might the consumption of pornography, at increasingly younger ages, impact their relationships and sexual behavior?
This is one of the issues analyzed in the study " Youth and Pornography in the Digital Age: Consumption, Perception and Effects ," carried out by the Reina Sofía Center of Fad Youth , funded by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030. The study aims to observe the practices, perceptions, and attitudes of adolescents and young people in Spain regarding pornography, and to delve into its meaning and impact on their lives as an agent of socialization and affective-sexual education.
30% of young people believe there is a relationship between pornography consumption and pressuring other people to have sex or perform certain sexual practices.
In this regard, according to Beatriz Martín Padura , general director of Fad Juventud, "the danger is that their sexuality, which is formed at an early age, will lead them to accept aggressive, violent, risky, or degrading behaviors as normal. If we don't start incorporating affective-sexual education more decisively into the family and the school curriculum, we are leaving them at the mercy of pornography . "
Jaume Funes Artiaga
The relationship between pornography and violence
According to the study, half of young people believe they watch too much pornography and admit they have tried to reduce their consumption without success, and up to 40% say that watching porn negatively affects important areas of their lives or that they have stopped doing things that interest them.
Also noteworthy is young people's perspective on the relationship between pornography and violence. On this issue, they not only acknowledge consuming violent pornographic content, but are also aware that this violence disproportionately affects women , as pornography perpetuates structural, social, and sexual violence against women. In this respect, young women are particularly critical and more sensitive to this situation.
Furthermore, one in three young people believe that pornography can encourage less condom use and generate sexual fantasies involving violence . And 30% of young people believe there is a link between pornography consumption and pressuring others to have sex or engage in certain sexual practices, and that porn has an explicit effect on perpetuating violence.
Technology has made pornography more accessible, anonymous, and interactive, and has turned it into a source of sex education for teenagers.
These data indicate that pornography consumption affects adolescent sexual development and impacts their understanding of sexuality . Technology has made pornography more accessible, anonymous, and interactive, and it has become a source of sex education for adolescents, affecting their relationships and potentially leading to risky or harmful behaviors. For all these reasons, Martín Padura believes that "it is essential that we guide adolescents in the development of their sexuality in a clear way and that they have access to role models who can provide accurate and reliable information."
Nurturing love
To prevent pornography consumption among minors and to try to alert parents about the consequences it can have on their children, Fad Juventud has launched the campaign "No to porn. Educate your children before porn does it for you."
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