So what do people think

Are you watching porn? It is not as harmful to young people as it is thought
According to a dissertation research being reviewed at the University of Turku, today's young people are able to distinguish the models seen in porn from real-life sex.
According to the doctoral researcher, in the age of online porn, young people are making more sexually responsible decisions than their previous generations in their youth. Illustration.According to the doctoral researcher, in the age of online porn, young people are making more sexually responsible decisions than their previous generations in their youth. Illustration.
According to the doctoral researcher, in the age of online porn, young people are making more sexually responsible decisions than their previous generations in their youth. Illustration. MOSTPHOTOS
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Linda Laine
linda.laine@iltalehti.fi
Wednesday 27.11.2019 at 21:53
The fear of educators about sexually reckless young people is unfounded, according to a dissertation study to be reviewed at the University of Turku at the end of November . The study was conducted by Sanna Spišák .

Based on his research, Spišák has come to the conclusion that the harmful effects of porn on the lives of young people are exaggerated. The argument may sound harsh: the use of the Internet and mobile devices by minors is sparking a lively debate about the risks of online pornography to the sexual development of young people, the university's press release said.

- There is really no research data on the effects of pornography on minors. There are no comprehensive longitudinal studies, Spišák, who argues about media research, says in a statement.

The bulletin states that in many contexts, the interest of minors in sexuality is in principle considered an undesirable thing or even a direct threat and danger.

According to Spišák, pornography is said to increase young people's irresponsible sexual behavior and earlier experiences of intercourse, the increase in sexual violence, the relaxation of sexual attitudes and moral perceptions, and the increased sexual activity of children and young people.

- However, the perceptions described above are not based on research data, but mainly reflect the fears and anxieties of adults about the supposed effects of the media, Spišák estimates, citing his dissertation.

"The populist talk of 21st century porn generations is exaggerated"
Although Finnish children and young people clearly encounter media content about sex more often than their European peers, the number of actual sexual experiences is declining, the press release says. Abortions for teenagers have also decreased in Finland in the 21st century.

- In the age of online porn, young people make more sexually responsible decisions than their previous generations in their youth. Young people in Finland are critical interpreters of pornography. They are able to assess the fiction of pornography and distinguish the patterns seen in porn from real-life sex, Spišák says in a statement.

According to Spišák's dissertation, young people feel that risk-taking language that is risky is more problematic than content seen in porn.

- The populist talk of the 21st century porn generations is unhistorical and exaggerated, completely ignoring the continuities and transitions related to the consumption of adolescent pornography from the time before the Second World War to the present day, Spišák says.

His research shows that pornographic content has been part of the everyday life and media culture of Finnish children and young people for decades before the Internet and mobile devices.

Sex education is planned on adult terms
Young people have a lot of questions about sex and sexuality that they don’t feel they get answered from school or adults in their immediate circle.

According to Spišák, sex education is usually planned on adult terms.

- The wishes of children and young people are hardly listened to when deciding on the content and methods of such education. Perhaps for some reason, more and more minors are choosing to seek answers to their questions about sex and sexuality away from home or school, Spišák says.