I will explain how adolescents' and emerging adults' sexual behavior is influenced by exposure to sexualized social media narratives. This will involve discussing their sexual attitudes, decision making regarding sexual acts, and the impact these have on their interpersonal connections. We will also explore whether there is a correlation between exposure to such narratives and changes in their moral beliefs about sex. I will describe how exposure to sexualized social media narratives can affect the formation of identity, self-esteem, and emotional regulation.
I will offer some insights into possible solutions for mitigating the negative effects of such exposure.
We must understand what constitutes "sexualized social media narratives." These are stories that include graphic descriptions or images of sexual activity or themes, often posted online by individuals or media outlets. Examples include pornography, erotic literature, erotic photos and videos shared on social networks, and sexting messages exchanged privately. Adolescents are exposed to sexualized social media narratives primarily through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. They may also encounter them on dating apps, hookup apps, gaming platforms, and blogs or discussion groups.
Sexuality researchers have long recognized that early sexual experiences can shape an individual's future sexual attitudes and behaviors (see Brown et al., 2017). The same holds true for adolescents who view sexualized social media content regularly. They may develop more permissive attitudes toward casual sex and greater acceptance of nontraditional sexual practices like group sex or BDSM. Such exposure has also been linked with increased rates of risky behavior like unprotected sex and sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs (see Fisher & Fisher, 2015). As a result, it is not surprising that adolescents exposed to sexualized social media content are more likely to engage in sexual activity earlier than their peers (see Zimmer-Gembeck et al., 2018).
Some research suggests that exposure to such narratives may also affect decision making regarding sexual acts.
Adolescents may be less likely to use condoms if they believe contraception is unnecessary due to media depictions of safe sex (see Kaufman et al., 2016). Similarly, they may view themselves as entitled to have multiple partners simultaneously or objectify others based on what they see online (see Wolak et al., 2019).
Exposure to sexualized social media narratives can affect interpersonal connections. Adolescents who encounter them frequently may perceive themselves as having fewer emotional needs in relationships (see Chirumbolo et al., 2018). They may feel pressure to act out scenes from what they have seen online to please their partner(s) or even feel disconnected from friends who do not share similar interests (see Lewis et al., 2020).
There appears to be a correlation between exposure to sexualized social media narratives and changes in moral beliefs about sex. Specifically, adolescents who consume such content regularly tend to hold more permissive attitudes toward nontraditional sexual practices like BDSM or polyamory (see Cameron et al., 2021).
They are less likely to agree with traditional gender roles and sexual norms (see Hill & Kahn, 2017). Thus, sexualized social media narratives contribute to the development of new identities that challenge conventional definitions of masculinity/femininity and sexuality (see Shifman et al., 2022).
While exposure to sexualized social media narratives does influence adolescents' and emerging adults' behavior, it is important to recognize that this is a complex phenomenon. We must consider how individual differences, family dynamics, peer groups, and cultural context shape these effects (see Jones et al., 2023). It is also crucial to remember that such exposure can have long-term consequences for mental health, self-esteem, and relationship stability (see DeAngelo et al., 2021). Therefore, we should prioritize education about responsible consumption and digital citizenship skills to protect young people from potential harm.
To what degree does exposure to sexualized social media narratives influence adolescents' and emerging adults' sexual behavior, ethical reasoning, and relational development?
Social media has become an integral part of modern life, providing a platform for people to connect with others from all over the world. One aspect that is increasingly prevalent on social media platforms are sexualized narratives. These include posts that contain explicit content related to sex, including images and videos. While this type of content can be entertaining, it may also have negative consequences for young people who view it.