Despite parents' best efforts to protect young people, teens are often exposed to sexual content online.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) has partnered with investigators in several countries to examine teenager's perceptions of sexual content online, and to investigate their understanding of love, sex, romance and consent.
The findings of the four-year study were unveiled at the P0rnposium event on Monday 4 December, at the State Library of WA.
The event brought together academics, relationship and sexual educators, former law enforcement and community-led speakers to offer a nuanced and multi-faceted perspective on pornography, sexual content and young people.
ECU PhD candidate and sexologist Giselle Woodley said this event was a chance to share new perspectives gleaned from a unique study with Australian students in their early teens.
"Most of the research to date has been done with over 18's, with minimal research from teens between 16 to 17 years old," she said.
"There's been little research to date with 11 to 15-year-olds. 49 interviews took place with the added benefit of having reinterviewed almost 20 participants a year later. This semi-longitudinal data offers teens' developed reflections and a chance to build on initial findings."
The ECU led discovery project, funded by the Australian Research Council, responds to cultural and theoretical questions prompted by the Australian government’s response to an earlier report on the harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the Internet and hopes to share findings in a nuanced, diverse and open forum.
"Too many young adults' first experiences of adult content are as a result of them being shown it unwittingly, and unwillingly. Being sent unsolicited content without consent is an example of Image Based Sexual Assault and Harassment," Ms Woodley said.
Despite parents' best efforts to protect young people, teens are often exposed to sexual content online. For some teens this meant that they were less able to discuss these matters with trusted adults in fear of consequences such as having their devices or social media taken away as punishment.
"Teens possessed mixed views regarding their perceived effects of sexual content and pornography, and many echoed their parent's concerns. While some teens reflected on potential harms associated with pornography, others noted potential benefits of such content in the absence of comprehensive sexual information via school or at home," Ms Woodley said.
The P0rnposium brought together several panellists, including qualified sexual health nurse, author and the founder of Sex Ed Rescue Cath Hakanson, eSafeKids founder and child safety advocate Kayelene Kerr, Australia's leading sexual-wellness coach Cam Fraser and researchers from ECU.
The panel discussed risk reduction strategies, alongside benefits of engaging with sexual content while sharing teens' perspectives on these important issues. Teens, parents, and sexual health and sexuality education professionals are welcome to participate, and the audience has an opportunity to offer in-the-moment interactive suggestions and comments.
