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Sex and Dating

Sexual messages flood our society. Images are seen on billboards and in magazines, and are graphically acted out on the screen. Many of these messages make dressing sexy, talking about sex, or casual sexual encounters seem like the norm. In fact, girls with a heavy sexual media diet are more likely to have a sexual dating experience.

And it’s not just movies and TV that parents need to worry about: Video games such as Grand Theft Auto are not only graphically violent, but also sexually explicit. With so many images bombarding kids, the need for discussion and education about the risks and health concerns of sex has become increasingly important.

Studies have shown that parents who watch TV with their kids can shape what their kids learn about the health risks or consequences of sexual activity and marketed sexual content. Public health experts note that media can be an effective sex educator by including specific information on birth control methods and sexually transmitted diseases in programming that contains sexual content.

See below for more information and research on the influence of media on kids' sexual attitudes, values, and behavior.