Complex and anxious, many adolescents lose self-confidence because they see pornography as an idealized representation of sexuality, which they do not feel able to achieve. Explanations with Margot Fried-Filliozat, sex therapist.
We know it, nowadays, teenagers are more and more exposed to pornographic content. Based on a qualitative study conducted in early summer 2020 According to the Opinion Way institute, 46% of young people under 17 have already been confronted with porn, and 27% of them consume it regularly. But the whole problem is not there. The fact that sexuality is still a taboo subject in families leads young people to base their sexual education on these images and the distorted representations they spread. And for good reason, the character fictional of pornography and the film industry that produces it are too little known to young people.
Complexes, anxiety, depression… Many adolescents lose self-confidence because they see pornography as a representation idealized of sexuality, which they do not feel capable of attaining. “A 15 year old boy once told me in consultation that he was not ready for his first time because he was afraid of everything he was going to have to do to his girlfriend. It is very evocative of what young people are going through today. They evolve in a world based on performancewhere they feel unable to replicate, or even desire, what they see actors doing”, explains Margot Fried-Filliozat, sex therapist.
A more exhibited sexuality but far from being uninhibited
Anxious about not living up to the “ideal sexuality” they see in pornography, young people withdraw into themselves, on a virtual sexuality. This is the start of a vicious circle. Teenagers who lack relational and social skills will have easier to watch pornography than to go to the other and try to have sex.
Victims of the pressure exerted by the pornographic industry, young people see their suffering minimized by public opinionwhich tends to associate Generation Z with a liberated and uninhibited sexuality… A false idea.
“I think a lot of parents feel that today’s teens have a lot more sexuality than they did at their age. What the statistics tell us is that not only has the average age of first sexual intercourse not changed in 20 years – it’s still around 17 – but also that teens today have far less sex than they did then. On the other hand, they are much more anxious and much more depressed… and incidentally suicidal.”, specifies the specialist.
This misconception stems quite simply from the observation that sexuality is more exhibited. Teens are exposed to a lot of sexualized content, especially on social media. This gives the illusion of a liberation of sexual mores, but the pornographic industry still gives pride of place to countless injunctions.
The importance of educating young people about pornography
“Teenagers are often surprised when I tell them that pornography diminishes the imagination. They all think it increases it, but in fact it doesn’t. Their desires come from what they saw, not from their own imagination”, remarks Margot Fried-Filliozat. It is clear that it is essential to inform teenagers not only about the mechanisms of this industry, special effects and acting, but also about the way in which pornography limits their vision of sexuality to an oppressive race for performance. The sex therapist reminds us: “pornography does not represent the richness of sexuality”.
Also, it is essential to accompany as soon as possible these young people who are today exposed early to content for which they have no the necessary hindsightand for which they are not not psychologically ready. It should be remembered that the average age of first exposure to pornographic content is 10 years old. And 53% of young people explain their consumption of pornographic content by the desire to learn. This is why within the home, communication is essential. And for parents who would have difficulty in speak directlyMargot Fried-Filliozat insists on the plurality of sources of information and education that exist :
“I don’t necessarily recommend having a hyper-direct conversation, because that can be uncomfortable, but provide them with resources. For example, in my book Sexperience there’s a whole behind-the-scenes porn chapter, so you can differentiate between what is real and what is not. You can also direct them to series that address sexualityor send them by email or textof the testimonials from porn actors and actresses, who talk about their experience on the sets. There are plenty when you search on Google. And there, it gives a reality, and we no longer observe with the same eyes”.
For more information and for discover other tools adapted to your situationconsult the platform I protect my child from pornographyset up by the public authorities and associations for parents to fight against the exposure of minors to this online content.
Every day, Lina strives to transcribe with the greatest accuracy and relevance possible the news of families, and to inform them about their health and their rights. Curious and…