Summarize two articles… urgent
66% of pornographic websites dont have any
adult-content warnings, and smartphones and
iPods do not have filtering systems for Internet
access. 3, 4
Sexual exploitation
Prolonged and increased exposure to sexually
explicit materials can lead to exaggerated beliefs
of sexual activity among peers, sexually permissible
attitudes, and sexual callousness, including more
negative attitudes toward sexual partners. 5
Recent research suggests that male youth who use
sexually explicit material may develop unrealistic
sexual values and beliefs and demonstrate sexual
preoccupation. Female youth reported feeling
physically inferior. 6
Adolescents are normalizing sexual abuse done to
them because of pornographic exposure. Females
are especially prone to the normalization of sexual
promiscuity, which heightens their risk of being
victims of unwanted sexual violence and of sexually
transmitted diseases. 7
Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation: Facts for Prevention
Impact of Exposure to Sexually Explicit
and Exploitative Materials
Exposure to sexually
explicit material
Studies have found that adolescents commonly
stumble upon sexually explicit material while
searching for different information. In one
study, 42% of adolescents reported exposure
to pornography online with 66% of those teens
describing such exposure as unwanted. 1
The Internet is only one source of exposure to
sexual content. A study of random selected youth
showed that music contained the most sexual content
(40%) followed by movies (12%) and television
(11%). 2
The pornography industry does not deny access to
young consumers despite the legal ramifications of
advertising sexually explicit material to minors:
75% of pornographic websites display visual
teasers on the homepages before asking if the
viewers are of legal age
Only 3% of these websites require proof-of-
age before granting access to sexually explicit
material
The content of todays media sexualizes and
objectifies girls. The effects of self-objectification
include eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression,
and depressed moods. Far from leading to a healthy
sexual development, sexual objectification leads to
diminished sexual understanding. 8
A study of sexually abusive children in Australia
showed 25% of the participants accessed sexually
explicit material from an older sibling or a friend,
emphasizing the unawareness of parents. In the
same group almost all parents reported that they
doubted their child would access pornography on the
Internet. 4
The more teens listened to degrading sexual music
content, the more likely they were to subsequently
initiate intercourse. Unplanned pregnancies and
sexually transmitted infections are more common
among those who initiate sexual activity earlier. 9
References
1 Braun-Courville, D. K., & Rojas, M. (2009). Exposure to
sexually explicit web sites and adolescent sexual attitudes
and behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(2), 156-
162. (p. 157)
2 Brown, J., LEngle, K., & Pardun, C. (2005). Linking
exposure to outcomes: Early adolescents consumption
of sexual content in six media mass communication. Mass
Communication & Society, 8(2), 75-91. (p. 84)
3 Delmonico, D. L., & Griffin, E. J. (2008) Cybersex and the
E-Teen: What Marriage and Family Therapists should know.
Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 34(4), 431-444.
4 Thornburgh, D., & Lin, H. S. (2002). Youth, pornography, and
the Internet. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
5 Braun-Courville, D. K. and Rojas, M., (2009). Exposure to
sexually explicit web sites and adolescent sexual attitudes
and behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(2), 156-
162. (p. 157)
6 Owens, E.W., Behun. R.J., Manning, J.C., & Reid, R.C. (2012).
The impact of internet pornography on adolescents: A
review of the research. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 19,
99-122.
7 Layden, M. A. (2010). The Social Costs of Pornography:
A Statement of Findings and Recommendations, 36.
New York: The Witherspoon Institute, Inc. http://www.
internetsafety101.org/upload/file/Social%20Costs%20
of%20Pornography%20Report.pdf
8 American Psychological Association, Task Force on the
Sexualization of Girls. (2010). Report of the APA Task
Force on the Sexualization of Girls. http://www.apa.org/pi/
women/programs/girls/report-full.pdf
9 Kanouse, D., Elliott, M., & Martino, S. (2006). Exposure to
degrading versus nondegrading music lyrics and sexual
behavior among youth. Pediatrics, 118(2), 436. http://
pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/2/e430.full.
pdf+html
For more information about the Coalition, please visit us online at:
www.preventtogether.org or via Email at [emailprotected]
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation 2013. All rights reserved. Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation: Facts for Prevention
Impact of Media and Technology on Youth
Because children have high levels of exposure, media have greater access and time to shape young
peoples attitudes and actions than do parents or teachers, replacing them as educators, role models,
and the primary sources of information about the world and how one behaves in it. 1
American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media
Youth and technology
A national survey reported teenagers spend, on
average, 8.08 hours a day using various forms of
media, not including time spent doing school work
or talking or texting on a cell phone. This includes
television, commercial or self-recorded video,
movies, video games, print, radio, recorded music,
computers, cell phones, and the Internet. 2 Youth
media use encompasses both consumption of media
and creation of content from a variety of platforms as
detailed below.
Internet activities
Most children are introduced and use the Internet
while they are kindergarten age or younger. 3
90% of 13-17-year-olds have used some form of
social media and 75% have a profile on a social
networking site. 4
38% of youth share photos, stories, videos and art. 6
47% of online teens have uploaded pictures where
others can see them. 5
27% of teens record and upload video to the
Internet and 13% stream video live to the Internet for
others to watch. 6
30% of parents stated they do not monitor their
childs Facebook activity. 7
Mobile media
77% of all 8-18-year-olds have their own cell
phone, up from 44% in 2004. Cell phone ownership
has increased with age, as 87% of teenagers 14-17-
years-old now own a cell phone, and 31% of these
older teens have smartphones. 8
20% of all media consumption occurs on mobile
devices (cell phones, iPod, or handheld games). 2
46% of 8-18-year-olds report sending an average of
118 texts per day with 7th – 12th graders spending
an average of an hour and a half a day sending or
receiving texts. 2
63% of all teens exchange text messages every
day with people in their lives far surpassing all
other forms of daily communication including email,
instant messaging, social networking and phone
calling. 7
Games
Interactive media, such as video games and the
Internet[have] even greater potential for positive
and negative effects on childrens physical and
mental health. Titillating violence in sexual contexts
and comic violence are particularly dangerous,
because they associate positive feelings with hurting
others. Child initiated virtual violence may be even
more profound than those of passive media. 1
A national study found only half of homes surveyed
had rules about videogames. 9
References
1 American Academy of Pediatrics Council on
Communications and Media. (2009). Policy Statement
Media Violence. Pediatrics, 124(5), 1495-1503. http://
pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/5/1495.full.pdf
2 Rideout, V. J., Foehr, U. G., & Roberts, D. F. (2010). Generation
M2: Media in the Lives of 8-18-Year-Olds. Menlo Park, CA:
Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. http://www.kff.org/
entmedia/upload/8010.pdf
3 McQuade, S., & Sampat, N. (2008). Survey of Internet and
At-Risk Behaviors, Rochester Institute of Technology.
Monroe County, NY: Report of the Rochester Institute of
Technology, 7. http://csla2008.pbworks.com/f/RIT%20
CyberSurveyFinalReport[2].pdf
4 Rideout, V. (2012). Social media, social life: How teens view
their digital lives: A Common Sense Media Research Study.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/
research/socialmediasociallife-final-061812.pdf
5 Lenhart, A., Madden, M., Macguill, A., Smith, A. (2007)
Teens and Social Media, Washington, D.C.: Pew Internet
& American Life Project. http://www.pewinternet.org/~/
media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.
pdf.pdf
6 Lenhart, A. (2012). Teens & online video. Washington, D.C.
Pew Research Centers Internet & American Life Project.
http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_
Teens_and_online_video.pdf
7 Lebo, H. (2013) Surveying the Digital Future: Year Eleven,
Center for the Digital Future USC Annenberg School for
Communication and Journalism (2013). The 2013 Digital
Future Report Surveying Year Eleven.
8 Lenhart, A. (2012). Teens, smartphones & texting.
Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Centers Internet &
American Life Project. http://www.pewinternet.org/~/
media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Teens_Smartphones_and_
Texting.pdf
9 Gentile, D. (2009). Pathological video-game use among
youth ages 8-18. Physiological Science, 20(5), 594-603.
http://www.drdouglas.org/drdpdfs/Gentile_Pathological_
VG_Use_2009e.pdf
For more information about the Coalition, please visit us online at:
www.preventtogether.org or via email at [emailprotected]
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation 2013. All rights reserved.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/5/1495.full.pdf
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/5/1495.full.pdf
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf_x000D_
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf_x000D_
http://csla2008.pbworks.com/f/RIT%2520CyberSurveyFinalReport%5B2%5D.pdf
http://csla2008.pbworks.com/f/RIT%2520CyberSurveyFinalReport%5B2%5D.pdf
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/socialmediasociallife-final-061812.pdf
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/socialmediasociallife-final-061812.pdf
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf.pdf
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf.pdf
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf.pdf
http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Teens_and_online_video.pdf_x000D_
http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Teens_and_online_video.pdf_x000D_
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Teens_Smartphones_and_Texting.pdf
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Teens_Smartphones_and_Texting.pdf
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Teens_Smartphones_and_Texting.pdf
http://www.drdouglas.org/drdpdfs/Gentile_Pathological_VG_Use_2009e.pdf
http://www.drdouglas.org/drdpdfs/Gentile_Pathological_VG_Use_2009e.pdf
mailto:preventtogether%40gmail.com?subject=Impact%20of%20Media%20and%20Technology%20on%20Youth
