The issue of how exposure to global media influences adolescent sexual norms has been an important subject for study since the early days of television and film. As technology has progressed, so too have the ways in which young people are exposed to various types of media that can impact their understanding of sexuality and relationships. It is clear that some type of media exposure does indeed shape adolescent attitudes about sex, although there remains debate among researchers regarding what these influences may be. One common theme across studies is that increased exposure to certain forms of media is correlated with more permissive views toward sexual behavior.
A 2014 study found that viewing pornography was associated with accepting of casual sex and sexual promiscuity among teenagers. Another study from 2016 found that young adult women who watched romantic films were more likely than those who did not watch them to believe that men would like it if they performed oral sex on them.
While such findings suggest that media exposure may contribute to liberalized attitudes towards sex, other scholars argue that such associations may simply reflect preexisting differences between individuals who consume more or less media. Some experts also point out that not all types of media necessarily lead to similarly permissive views; for instance, watching romantic comedies may encourage beliefs about love and intimacy without influencing sexual behavior, while pornography may increase tolerance for sexual aggression as well as acceptance of non-consensual sexual behaviors.
The question then becomes: How can we best understand the relationship between media consumption and adolescent sexual norms? To answer this, researchers need to examine how different types of media influence different aspects of sexual behavior. This requires carefully examining both the content of media messages and their context in relation to audience reception. By looking at the specific ways in which adolescents interact with media, researchers can better pinpoint the factors that contribute to their attitudes and decisions regarding sex. Future studies should focus on studying various forms of media exposure and measuring how these impact different dimensions of adolescent sexual decision making and behavior, including attitudes toward sexual activity, expectations for relationships, and actual sexual practices.
How does exposure to global media influence adolescent sexual norms?
Exposure to global media has several effects on the sexual norms of adolescents. One effect is that it can lead to the development of more liberal attitudes towards sex, as they are exposed to messages about different sexual practices and orientations from around the world. This can be seen as positive or negative, depending on one's individual values and beliefs.