Internet & Porn
The Internet and E-Safety
The internet is such an integral part of children’s and young people’s lives these days. It opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving them access to a world of information and experiences.
Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, a games console or mobile phone, children and young people are increasingly accessing the internet whenever and wherever they can.
Pornography
We’ve seen an increase in concern recently about the growing sexualisation of children and young people. Part of this has been linked to the availability of pornography mainly through the internet. Many professionals have raised concerns regarding young people’s health and emotional wellbeing, especially in relation to sex and relationships and how exposure to pornography is impacting on attitudes and expectations.
For young people, exposure to pornography can increase anxiety around body image, relationships, sexual expectations as well as have negative impact on attitudes to sexual partners and safe sex. (You Gov, 2009)
Research around this subject has shown that pornography is used for certain functions, especially with young men using it to satisfy curiosity about sex and in particular technique, positions and the female anatomy. (Flood, 2009)
There has been a limited amount of research into the impact of pornography but from anecdotal feedback from professionals we are aware that there is definitely some influence on young people.
Help for professionals
Advice
For advice on the internet and the young people you work with check out the ‘Think you know’ website: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers
They have lots of useful information and advice around social networking, instant messaging and other internet related issues.
Another useful link is the South West Grid for Learning: www.swgfl.org.uk
Training
4YP have recently developed ‘Impact of the Internet on Sex and Relationship Training’ which runs twice a year. It is free and is a one day course.
Resources
The 4YP team have also developed resources around the impact of the internet, media and pornography on young people’s relationships and sex. It can be downloaded here and includes practical resources that you can use both in 1-2-1 and group settings with young people.
There is also a very useful Briefing pack for workers on pornography. You can download this here.
