Youth Viewing Sexually Explicit Material Online: Addressing the Elephant on the Screen

摘要: Existing research demonstrates adolescents are increasingly using the Internet to learn about sex. This includes viewing sexually explicit material. Minimal scholarly work addresses role of material in lives USA. article reports findings drawn from open-ended semi-structured interviews with 51 young adults their use Specifically discussed motivations for and participants’ responses they viewed. Participants’ content included curiosity sex, material, romantic partners, groups, or individual sexual pleasure. Participants as ranged a minimal number times frequent consistent viewing. positive assessments that some portrayed more realistic range people bodies than mainstream media it was safe means exploring learning sexuality. negative encountering upsetting feeling unrealistic behaviors interactions. Many participants described incorporating ideas gleaned into experiences. skills resources critically view were most likely assess positively. Based on these findings, initial suggestions could be derived how online information well might responsibly addressed formal education settings.