Relationships & Sex Education

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Pornography

Pornography refers to any printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs, or activity intended to stimulate sexual excitement.

It is important to understand that pornography:

doesn’t reflect real life
doesn’t talk about consent
doesn’t talk about contraception

It is illegal for a person under 18 to send explicit images or films of themselves, or of another young person. All regulated porn websites try to prevent under 18’s from accessing them.

Studies have shown that when young people are exposed to sexually explicit material they can be at a higher risk of:

Unrealistic attitudes about sex and consent
Negative attitudes towards roles and identities in relationships
Having a more casual attitude to sex
Having unrealistic expectations of body image and performance

For more help and information, you can talk to a trusted adult, contact your doctor or visit a Spectrum sexual health clinic