Don’t leave sex education to internet pornography

People around the world are becoming more and more dependent on the Internet. According to the International Telecommunication Union, about two-thirds of the world’s population now has access to this digital infrastructure, which was created only three decades ago. Commerce, entertainment, political interaction, education and socialization increasingly depend on online information and interaction.

Pornography is an underestimated web phenomenon. It is estimated that 12% of active websites worldwide belong to this genre. In 2013, a Huffington Post article stated that porn sites had more monthly visitors than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined. Of course, Netflix and Twitter were still new back then. But although statistical estimates vary, this old article is still being discussed more than 10 years after it was published. The point is that sexual content is an undeniable feature of online life. It is easily accessible to anyone with Internet access, without serious restrictions.

We truly live in the digital age today. What we consume online shapes our understanding, perceptions, opinions, attitudes and behaviors. This is especially true during our formative years.

Unsafe behavior, including sexual violence

A large body of research suggests that pornography can influence sexual practices and attitudes. It promotes potentially unsafe behavior, including sexual violence. This is not only true, but especially true, for young people. Sexually explicit content is also seen as a source of information, not just for arousal. Unfortunately, many young people around the world have no other source.

Researchers warn that early exposure to pornography can cause various forms of long-term harm. Pornography consumption among adolescents is associated with early sexual activity and more partners, but also with lower relationship satisfaction. Pornography often distorts people’s expectations and is correlated with acceptance of misogyny and outdated gender stereotypes.

All of this can lead to dissatisfaction and easily lead to relationship anxiety. Not surprisingly, sexual dysfunction is also sometimes linked to excessive porn use.

Unintentional exposure to pornography is also problematic. According to a recent article published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, almost half of young men (46.2%) and more than half of young women (55.7%) viewed sexually explicit content for the first time without intending to. The experience was often shocking.

Risk of addiction

Such trends have sparked a serious debate about the impact porn sites have on a person’s sexual maturation, sexual behavior, and overall personality development. Like the Internet, pornography can also be addictive, with one addiction reinforcing the other.

The solution seems obvious, right? Ban internet pornography! Well, no.

This sounds simple, but it is not feasible. Concerns about fundamental freedoms and censorship, while important, are secondary. More importantly, the global nature of the Internet means that no single country, or even group of countries, can impose bans. And even if it could, it would hardly be effective. Technological advances, from encrypted content to peer-to-peer or virtual private networks, thwart many such efforts to restrict access to any type of content. Moreover, bans usually lead to the growth of unregulated black markets that are very difficult to monitor.

Two-pronged solution

The solution lies in a more differentiated approach: comprehensive sex education combined with efforts to improve media literacy. Parents and schools must face these enormous challenges. Unfortunately, neither side can assume that the other will do its job well. Sex is taboo in many societies and the Internet is a historically young and little-researched phenomenon.

Sex education is important because teenagers are genuinely interested in sex. They need to be educated about reproductive health, but also about the psychological dimensions of intimate relationships. They have a right to know that pornography is essentially sexual fantasies, with exaggerated images and an extremely narrow focus on what is in reality only a small part of the complex interactions of a real couple. Only honest discussions about sexuality and relationships can foster the understanding of consent, boundaries and potential risks that young people need to take responsibility for their own well-being.

Media literacy, on the other hand, is essential to making informed decisions online – and not just when it comes to sex. Knowledge and critical thinking skills are necessary to navigate the digital landscape. Various parental controls and age verification tools are not a solution, as they can only reduce the harm to a limited extent.

In fact, digital options can serve the purpose of sexuality education by providing a comprehensive and diverse range of information. The Global Partnership on Comprehensive Sexuality Education argues that privacy and ease of use can help overcome feelings of discomfort and shame that both learners and teachers may feel. Given that porn websites generate a lot of traffic, some researchers even argue that they could be good places for serious sexuality education. So far, however, they are not.

Ultimately, a multifaceted approach that combines education, empowerment and responsible adulthood is key to navigating the complexities surrounding sex and the internet. People with sufficient media literacy will be more likely to find the information they need, and people with sufficient sex education will be better able to understand pornography when they see it.

Mahwish Gul is a consultant from Pakistan based in Nairobi who specializes in development management.
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