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The dark side of the internet regarding sexual education

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 34, pages 235–236 (2022)Cite this article

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Worldwide, 4.1 billion people (about 54% of the world’s population) use the internet, and its use for information acquisition and education is increasing [1]. The highest rate of internet use is among young people [2], who commonly use it to obtain information on sexuality [1]. For example, one survey that asked young people, “Where do you get the most information or education about body, gender, and relationships?” revealed that 31% reported receiving information from friends, 29% from digital sources, and 25% from school [3]. Another study indicates that 76.5% of college students use online resources to learn about sexuality [4]. Adolescents may seek information from such resources to avoid the stigma, rejection, and embarrassment that they may face when talking face-to-face with parents or healthcare professionals [5].

Digital-based sex education is advantageous because it is easy to access and provides a wide variety of content. Also, young people can generally access such information quickly and without cost. It can even be fun and engaging. Some online content about sexuality is specifically designed to attract young people and increase their awareness. For example, the New Zealand government released a video presenting two naked pornography stars with the aim of raising awareness about the online safety of youth under the age of 18 [6]. Similarly, interesting and informative videos on topics such as masturbation, sexual relations, sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex practices, birth control methods, and sexual discrimination can be readily found online, helping young people access accurate sexual information easily and reliably.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Akcakale State Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Emre Altintas

  2. Department of Urology, Selcuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey

    Murat Gul

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  1. Emre Altintas
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  2. Murat Gul
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Correspondence to Murat Gul.

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Altintas, E., Gul, M. The dark side of the internet regarding sexual education. Int J Impot Res 34, 235–236 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00398-0

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