February 2023: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Culture Reframed is the premier science-based, global organization working to stop the emotional, behavioral, and sexual harms of pornography to children and youth. Join our online community to receive updates on our work, announcements of upcoming events, and the latest news related to pornography and youth.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, bringing much-needed attention to this serious issue. Teen dating violence is more common than you might think.

A survey from the CDC indicated that about 1 in 12 U.S. high school students, primarily girls, experienced physical dating violence, and about 1 in 12 experienced sexual dating violence. This can have lasting effects on teens, especially girls, ranging from depression to drug use to relationship problems.

We can make a difference and help young people navigate relationships through acts that show we care. Culture Reframed’s Parents Program for Teens provides expert insights on how to empower teens and help them develop healthy relationships. It’s free and available to everyone — check it out here and share it with other parents and caregivers. Let’s come together to raise awareness, support survivors, and end the cycle of abuse.

If you were unable to attend our virtual event in December, Pornography & Prostitution: Connecting the Dots, you can now stream all of the presentations on our YouTube channel. Delivered by a group of inspiring activists and thought leaders of the anti-sexual exploitation movements, including Ashley Judd, Taina Bien-Aimé, Meghan Donevan, Vednita Carter, and Dr. Gail Dines, the sessions explore the inextricable link between pornography and prostitution and the harmful impacts they have on women and girls.

While studies show that male contact sport athletes are more likely than non-athletes to perpetuate violence against women, there has been very limited research on the extent, distribution, sources, and consequences of such behavior. Culture Reframed’s latest white paper, “Secret Connections: Male Collegial and Professional Contact Sports, Pornography, and Violence against Women,” explores this connection and the ties between porn and abusive acts committed by men who play the most popular and profitable contact sports.

“Sex work can’t be defined as a job or work. The inherent harm of being bought and sold is the actual sex act.” In this presentation from Culture Reframed’s virtual event, “Pornography and Prostitution: Connecting the Dots,” Vednita Carter challenges the notion of “sex work” as a legitimate job and highlights the harm and violence associated with it. Carter is the founder of Breaking Free, a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota, that is dedicated to ending all forms of sex trafficking. Watch her presentation to learn more.

Teen Girls ‘Engulfed’ in Violence and Trauma, CDC Finds

Teen girls across the United States are “engulfed in a growing wave of violence and trauma,” according to federal researchers who released new data showing increases in rape and sexual violence, as well as record levels of feeling sad or hopeless. READ NOW ON WASHINGTON POST

Seattle Schools Sue Tech Giants Over Social Media Harm

The public school district in Seattle has filed a novel lawsuit against the tech giants behind TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat, seeking to hold them accountable for the mental health crisis among youth. READ NOW ON AP

Arkansas Senators Propose Bill Requiring Digital ID Prior to Viewing Porn

Two Arkansas senators have proposed a bill that would require a digital ID to view porn in an effort to protect minors from “harmful material.” READ NOW ON THV11

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