Sexual disinformation is false or misleading information about sex, which can be found on the internet. It covers various topics, such as birth control, STDs, abortion, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual abuse, rape culture, pornography, etc. Online sexual disinformation has become increasingly prevalent among adolescents due to the proliferation of social media platforms and their easy accessibility. Adolescence is a critical stage where teenagers' minds are forming beliefs about themselves and the world around them. Thus, exposure to online sexual disinformation shapes how they perceive risks associated with sexual activity. This paper explores how online sexual disinformation affects teens' risk perception in different areas.
Adolescents may develop unrealistic expectations regarding sexual encounters from viewing online sexual content. They may see sexual acts that are exaggerated and unlikely in real life, such as multiple orgasms or extreme physical positions. These images may shape how they view normal sexual experiences and make them feel unsatisfied if they cannot replicate what they saw online. Therefore, they may engage in high-risk behaviors like having unprotected sex to achieve such feats, putting themselves at greater risk for STIs and unwanted pregnancies. Secondly, exposure to online sexual disinformation may lead to increased confusion about sexuality and its consequences. Teens who believe myths about sex, like that it will always result in pregnancy, may not take necessary precautions, leading to health risks.
Online sexual disinformation may also influence teens' attitudes towards sex by encouraging promiscuity or casual relationships.
Some websites promote hookup culture, suggesting that it is natural for young people to have many partners without emotional attachments. Such messages can lead to risky behavioral patterns, such as unsafe sex, which increases HIV transmission rates among adolescents.
Exposure to online sexual disinformation may reinforce harmful gender norms and create a rape culture, where the idea of nonconsensual sex is promoted as acceptable. Thus, teenagers exposed to this type of information may be more likely to victimize others.
Online sexual disinformation shapes adolescent risk perception in various ways. It creates false expectations regarding sexual encounters, confuses them about sexual consequences, encourages promiscuous behavior, and reinforces harmful gender norms. This paper has explored these effects on adolescents and their implications.
In what ways does exposure to online sexual disinformation shape adolescent risk perception?
Exposure to online sexual disinformation has been found to have several impacts on adolescents' perception of risks related to sex. Firstly, it can lead to confusion about the accuracy of information they encounter online, which may result in distrust of all sources of information and an inability to identify reliable sources. Secondly, it can create unrealistic expectations about sexual experiences and relationships, leading to unsafe behaviors or disappointment when reality doesn't match up with their expectations.