When Porn Becomes Sex Education, What Happens in College?

Key points

• Pornography is shaping many young people’s expectations about sex, intimacy, and consent.
• Exposure to violent pornography is associated with lower empathy and greater acceptance of sexual coercion.
• Teens need to understand how peer attitudes and emotional desensitization can reinforce sexual coercion.

Parents and mentors can help by asking questions about the relationships portrayed in pornography and other media. Are both people treated as individuals with feelings and choices? What happens when someone appears uncomfortable, unwilling, or unable to consent? What does a healthy, caring relationship look like?

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