PORNOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL MEDIA Alison Burton- SRE Training

WHAT IS PORNOGRAPHY? Pornography is visual and/or printed material containing explicit description or display of the sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement.

WHAT IS DIGITAL MEDIA? Digital content that can be transmitted through the internet or computer networks. This includes text, graphics, audio and video. Examples: Facebook, snapchat, twitter and Instagram

WHERE DO YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS INFORMATION? Social media Social media Magazines Magazines TV TV Peers/ siblings Peers/ siblings Music Music

SEX IS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

ASN AND AUTISM Activity One: 1.Can someone's additional support need limit their general understanding? 2.In what way? 3.Why might this be concerning for someone accessing information online?

DANGERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ASN AND AUTISM ACCESSING PORNOGRAPHY… Exaggerated emotions/orgasms Exaggerated emotions/orgasms Perfect bodies Perfect bodies Violent and degrading Violent and degrading Negative image of sex Negative image of sex Disappointed with real life experiences Disappointed with real life experiences Addiction Addiction Pornography Categories Pornography Categories

THE SCIENCE BEHIND PORNOGRAPHY “Studies looking at the impact of porn on thousands of young people and adults have found that: Watching porn often makes real-world sex less enjoyable Watching porn often makes real-world sex less enjoyable Porn often makes people feel less happy in their relationships Porn often makes people feel less happy in their relationships Porn can lead people to think about sex a lot more. This can make it harder for them to enjoy their friendships and other interests. Porn can lead people to think about sex a lot more. This can make it harder for them to enjoy their friendships and other interests. Porn can lead to people viewing others, especially women, as ‘sex objects’. This means we only see other people as things to have sex with, not as people with intelligence and feelings. This means we respect them less. Everyone gets less out of life and relationships if this happens. Porn can lead to people viewing others, especially women, as ‘sex objects’. This means we only see other people as things to have sex with, not as people with intelligence and feelings. This means we respect them less. Everyone gets less out of life and relationships if this happens. Over time, porn can shape the types of things you get turned on by. There’s some pretty weird porn out there so if you train your brain to be turned on by the things you see, you could have trouble enjoying real sex. Over time, porn can shape the types of things you get turned on by. There’s some pretty weird porn out there so if you train your brain to be turned on by the things you see, you could have trouble enjoying real sex. So, porn presents fantasies but can have a big impact on our real lives. It can affect our relationships, sex lives, and our abilities to feel good about ourselves” So, porn presents fantasies but can have a big impact on our real lives. It can affect our relationships, sex lives, and our abilities to feel good about ourselves”(

WHAT THE LAW SAYS… You can legally buy porn magazines and videos at 18, and all regulated porn websites try to prevent under 18s from accessing them. The government has recently clarified existing obscenity laws to ensure that materials rated only suitable for 18 year olds (and above) have controls in place to stop children under 18 from accessing them. You can legally buy porn magazines and videos at 18, and all regulated porn websites try to prevent under 18s from accessing them. The government has recently clarified existing obscenity laws to ensure that materials rated only suitable for 18 year olds (and above) have controls in place to stop children under 18 from accessing them. There are certain types of porn that are illegal – even for an adult to be in possession of. These are called "extreme pornographic images", and include acts that threaten a person's life, acts which are likely to, or, result in serious injury, degrading porn, violent porn (which includes rape and abuse) or anything involving those under the age of 18. There are certain types of porn that are illegal – even for an adult to be in possession of. These are called "extreme pornographic images", and include acts that threaten a person's life, acts which are likely to, or, result in serious injury, degrading porn, violent porn (which includes rape and abuse) or anything involving those under the age of 18. It is illegal for a person under 18 to send explicit images or films of themselves, or of another young person. By sending an explicit image, a young person is producing and distributing child abuse images and risks being prosecuted, even if the picture is taken and shared with their permission It is illegal for a person under 18 to send explicit images or films of themselves, or of another young person. By sending an explicit image, a young person is producing and distributing child abuse images and risks being prosecuted, even if the picture is taken and shared with their permission

LETS TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE… Back to the basics of SRE Understanding body parts Understanding body parts Understanding that body parts look different Understanding that body parts look different Puberty and how our bodies change Puberty and how our bodies change Public and private Public and private Good touch and bad touch Good touch and bad touch Masturbation and arousal Masturbation and arousal Sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse

THINGS YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SAID… “My private areas don’t look normal” “Will I get into trouble?” “I want to watch it all the time” “My boyfriend wants me to watch porn with him but I don’t know what it is” “I saw something that I wasn’t expecting”

TALKING ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY… Information provided by NSPCC

ONLINE PORN ISN’T REAL Explain that sex in porn is often different to how people have sex in real life. People are acting and putting on a performance so things are exaggerated and the lines between consent, pleasure and violence are often blurred. It's important for young people to know the difference. Talking about healthy relationships can be a way of pointing out the differences between how actors and actresses in porn interact and how we do in our day-to-day lives.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS It is important for your young person to understand that relationships they see in porn are very different, often not realistic, compared to real relationships. Talk to them about what makes a positive and healthy relationship. Ask them what they think makes a good relationship. You can prompt them by discussing respect, personal boundaries and consent. This conversation may vary depending on age and ability.

PORN ADDICTION There is a growing body of research looking into the impact that porn has on the brain. Watching porn can become "a high" similar to the way addicts feel when they take drugs. Scientists are discovering that excessive porn use can have a negative impact on key parts of the brain. For children and young people, these effects can be greater as their brains are still developing. Signs of porn addiction can include neglecting other parts of daily life – cancelling plans with friends or family, loss of interest in real relationships, and an obsession with sex. Talking to your child about their day may help you to spot any changes in their behaviour. For example, do they prefer to spend more time alone than they used to?

NOT EVERYONE WATCHES PORN Sometimes children and young people feel pressured to watch porn. Explain to your child that whilst some people watch porn online, not everyone does and it's definitely not something they have to. Let them know it's OK not to want to watch or do something that makes them feel uncomfortable and they should never be pressured or forced into anything. Explain why you think that online porn may be inappropriate for them. Use reference points - news stories or tv shows - as a way to frame the discussion

SAFE PLACES TO GET INFORMATION ONLINE ChildLine - the website provides young people with information and advice about online porn. The information is for young people aged 12 and above and aims to answer any difficult questions or concerns they may have. ChildLine - the website provides young people with information and advice about online porn. The information is for young people aged 12 and above and aims to answer any difficult questions or concerns they may have. Think U Know - offers age appropriate advice for young people, with content broken down from ages 5-7 up to 14+. They also have content for parents and other adults responsible for the wellbeing of children. Think U Know - offers age appropriate advice for young people, with content broken down from ages 5-7 up to 14+. They also have content for parents and other adults responsible for the wellbeing of children. Brook - the UK's largest young people's sexual health charity. For 50 years, Brook has been providing sexual health services, support and advice to young people under the age of 25. Brook - the UK's largest young people's sexual health charity. For 50 years, Brook has been providing sexual health services, support and advice to young people under the age of 25. BBC Advice - helps young people with a broad range of issues. The information on the site is based on advice from medical professionals, government bodies, charities and other relevant groups. BBC Advice - helps young people with a broad range of issues. The information on the site is based on advice from medical professionals, government bodies, charities and other relevant groups. The Site - content on The Site is aimed at young people aged 16+. They offer "real world" advice on a range of subjects including sex and relationships, drink and drugs, and health. The Site - content on The Site is aimed at young people aged 16+. They offer "real world" advice on a range of subjects including sex and relationships, drink and drugs, and health.

INFORMATION TO CONSIDER What methods of teaching are best for the young person? What methods of teaching are best for the young person? Are we comfortable discussing sex and pornography? Are we comfortable discussing sex and pornography? Has the young person had appropriate sexual health education? Has the young person had appropriate sexual health education? Young people have the right to sexual freedom! Young people have the right to sexual freedom! Do we have accurate information? Do we have accurate information?

“This is the first generation that have not known anything else other than a completely online life, and I think that is having and continuing to have a significant impact and influence on the way in which [young people] think about sex and the way in which they conduct their sexual relationships. Good quality sex education is absolutely critical.” (Jon Brown, NSPCC)

LETS SHARE INFORMATION…

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