Growing Up in a Porn Culture: The Social, Emotional & Cognitive Effects
Presented by Culture Reframed
Prior to 2000, most young people, especially boys, would first encounter pornographic images in magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse. Their access to these (mainly) soft-core images was limited, so it was not a pivotal issue in terms of the sexual health and development of young people, and pornography did not serve as the primary source of sex education. Since 2000, the internet has become the main vehicle for porn, and hardcore porn is just a click away—it is free, violent, and based on the degradation and abuse of women and children. The proliferation of the smartphone, together with the growth of teen-targeted social media sites, has opened up yet more avenues for teens to access hardcore porn. This presentation will explore the most popular social media platforms accessed by young people today, linking the social media and porn industries and the harmful effects of their exposure to young people. Today, online porn has become a primary source of sex education for young people around the world. Researchers from across disciplines, using a wide range of methodologies, have shown that viewing pornography is associated with: ● increased anxiety and depression; ● poor academic performance; ● risky and problematic sexual behaviors; ● decreased capacity for empathy, connection, & healthy relationships ● lowered empathy for rape victims; ● lowered likelihood of intervening in a sexual assault; ● increase in committing domestic violence ● increased likelihood of engaging in sex at a younger age; ● increased likelihood of contracting STDs. Focusing on the public health approach, this presentation will highlight how Culture Reframed helps parents and professionals who work with young people to navigate this precarious terrain of hypersexualized social media and pornography. We will discuss our research-driven online courses and resources for parents and professionals, including our NEW Sex Education with a Porn-Critical Lens Curriculum. Outcomes of Presentation Gain a nuanced and research-based understanding of the social, emotional, and cognitive impacts of hypersexualized pop culture and pornography on young people. Understand the ways the pornography industry targets youth via social media platforms. Develop an awareness of the cultural impact of pornography, and how it impacts family and peer relationships. Debunk the most prevalent myths about kids and pornography. Understand the public health approach to the porn crisis as the basis for the development of CR’s courses and resources. Gain practical skills, tips and strategies to address the harms of pornography.
Register through Zoom Webinar Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-YzwKCg3THOph1I2f2hNMg