August 2025: New Resource on How to Talk With Young People About Porn

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.

As Culture Reframed marks its 10th anniversary, I feel deeply honored to be part of an organization that has led the way in bringing the porn crisis into the mainstream. Confronting the realities of porn culture can be extremely difficult, but what sustains us is the incredible community we work beside, who share our commitment to placing children’s safety and well-being above all else.

In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll find:

• A candid and moving interview with our founder Dr. Gail Dines as she chronicles ten years of growth
• Key takeaways from our recent webinar on healthy screen time habits
• A free guide to talking with young people about porn
• And coverage of my advocacy on children’s online safety in Washington, D.C.

We hope you find these resources helpful and inspiring — I encourage you to share them with anyone you know who may benefit.

The support of our dedicated community fuels our mission. Donations make free resources like those in this newsletter possible, helping us shape a healthier culture for young people. Every gift counts. Learn more about our community of Culture Reframed Champions and how you can make an impact today.

Thank you for standing with us. Here’s to another incredible 10 years!

— Mandy Sanchez, PhD
Director of Programming, Culture Reframed

For the past 10 years, Culture Reframed has worked across disciplines and continents to shift the narrative around pornography — from an issue dismissed as “victimless” to one rightly seen as a global public health crisis.

In an illuminating and hopeful interview, Culture Reframed Founder & CEO Dr. Gail Dines shares:

• How she found this work and the path her career has taken
• The organizational accomplishments she’s most proud of
• How she remains hopeful
• Her aspirations for the organization in the decade ahead

Help power our next 10 years. Even the smallest donations strengthen and expand our reach and help us create free, accessible resources that foster a healthier, more equitable culture for all young people. We invite you to join our community of Culture Reframed Champions by setting up a monthly gift today.

Two digital wellness experts, Julia Storm of ReConnect and Adrienne Principe of Turning Life On, shared practical strategies for parents and caregivers during last month’s webinar, “Keeping Tech in Check: Helping Kids Lead Healthy Digital Lives.” From identifying the most significant risks to sharing everyday strategies, their conversation highlights practical steps families and communities can take to help kids develop balanced, respectful relationships with technology.

It’s never too early or too late to start the conversation with your young person about porn. In this handy (free!) fact sheet, parents and caregivers will learn:

• How to educate yourself
• Conversation starters
• Tools and tips for monitoring devices

In July, Dr. Mandy Sanchez represented Culture Reframed’s mission to end porn’s harm to youth at the 2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress. She took part in an important panel conversation on Cyber Risks and Violence, addressing risk, aggression, and violence online across platforms and examining how individual and group inequities shape exposure to harm.

Should We Teach Kids About Porn’s Harms? Yes, and Here’s How

In this piece for Psychology Today, psychologist and educator Thomas Lickona explores what kids are exposed to in today’s online world, the proven harms of pornography on youth development, and why early, honest conversations with children are essential. He also highlights expert voices like Dr. Gail Dines and offers practical tools and resources for families.

Here’s where you can find the Culture Reframed team next month:

International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference

September 17–19 | Virtual
Dr. Gail Dines and Dr. Mandy Sanchez will take the stage at this virtual conference aimed at uniting the global community to learn, connect, and collaborate to combat human trafficking and promote social justice.

FiLiA Women’s Rights Conference 2025

October 10–12 | Brighton, UK
Dr. Gail Dines will speak about the harms of pornography at Europe’s largest feminist conference, convening women who are challenging sex-based injustices across the world.

JuST Conference 2025

October 14-16 | Orlando, FL
Dr. Mandy Sanchez will present “Social Media, Porn, Artificial Intelligence (AI): The New Faces of Trafficking” at the nation’s leading training conference on juvenile sex trafficking.

Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI Companions (Common Sense Media)

New research reveals that kids aren’t just experimenting with AI companions — many are having serious conversations with them in place of trusted adults. This isn’t a niche behavior, but rather a widespread trend. Read more.

‘There Is No Safe Way to Do It’: The Rapid Rise and Horrifying Risks of Choking During Sex (The Guardian)

The trend of sexual choking is far more common — and dangerous — than you might think. The Guardian reports: “Few doubt its origins. ‘It’s about porn and the mainstreaming of illegal and violent tropes in porn practices,’ says [Jane] Meyrick. It’s not just dedicated porn sites, she says. ‘It’s a click away on TikTok, it’s absolutely everywhere.’” Read more.

Pornography ‘Literacy’ Needed to Better Inform Young People, Says Ethicist (Medscape)

Leading medical ethicist Arthur Caplan argues for the need to teach kids porn literacy. Read more.

Pornography Study Resolution Passes State Senate (KXNET)

As part of an effort to reduce the number of sex crimes in North Dakota, the legislative assembly passed a resolution to consider studying the impact of pornography. Read more.

The Experience of Individuals Filmed for Pornography Production: A History of Continuous Polyvictimization and Ongoing Mental Health Challenges (Taylor & Francis)

A prominent pattern emerging from the data on individuals filmed for pornography production is the role of childhood trauma in predisposing individuals to later exploitation. Read more.

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