Dr. Amanda Sanchez Discusses Kids’ Exposure to Porn on Social Media
In this presentation from Culture Reframed’s recent virtual event, “Pornography and Prostitution: Connecting the Dots,” Culture Reframed’s Program Coordinator Dr. Amanda Sanchez explores the issue of how social media has been infiltrated by pornography and the harmful impact it has on kids.
“The social media world is where the kids are, but it’s also where the predators are,” notes Dr. Sanchez. Pornography has become ubiquitous on social media platforms that are popular among young teenagers. From Snapchat to TikTok and Instagram to YouTube, hypersexualized content is easily accessible to millions of daily users. These platforms often offer their services to users as young as 13 years old, and as Dr. Sanchez notes, “There is no greater groomer than the porn industry.”
Kids and Social Media
For many young teenagers, social media provides a valuable outlet for staying informed about current events, participating in activism and social causes, and connecting with friends. However, the use of social media also has its drawbacks, including the loss of privacy; increased stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation; and exposure, at an increasingly young age, to pornography.
How Kids and Porn are Linked on Social Media Platforms
In her presentation, Dr. Sanchez explains that predators will bait and train social media users to unwittingly perform inappropriate acts. According to Dr. Sanchez, predators will request that livestreamers perform seemingly innocent actions that expose intimate body parts or movements.
Watch the video as Dr. Sanchez delves into the specifics of how different social media platforms are being used to spread hypersexualized content and the implications it has on its impressionable young audience.
Where are your kids getting their sex education? Their smartphones? In this digital age, it’s critical for young people to have trusted adults to help them build resilience and resistance to hypersexualized media and porn. Check out Culture Reframed’s free online Programs for Parents of Tweens and Program for Parents of Teens.
