Adolescents, social networks and sex in pandemia: an explosive cocktail

Related although this fact seems to be positive, technologies carry risks that can seriously affect us.That is why it is important to know which ones are facing exactly social networks during this exceptional situation of health crisis.

To answer this question we must ask ourselves another: What are social networks and the Internet using young?A study that we carried out during the quarantine situation, even without publishing, indicates that 26.5 % of respondents have sent sensual photos through instant messaging applications or social networks in those months.

Also, 35.7 % have consumed pornography through the Internet.In addition, 28.6 % have been downloaded during this health crisis situation applications to flirt.The question we ask ourselves at this point is: What crimes or risks is generating this situation?

First, we have to know how the use of social networks or electronic devices for sexual purposes does not entail a risk in itself.In fact, we must understand that adolescents are related to their peers through technologies, especially in this situation of health crisis that we are living.

Virtual sex

Therefore, their sexual relations have also moved to the virtual world.In this sense, the consensual shipment of images or videos with sexual content does not have to be a danger.But so that this practice does not entail serious risks, it must be carried out following a first basic recommendation: do not send content in which the identity of the person can be recognized.

On the other hand, if the practice of sexting - intended as the sexual material sent voluntarily - is done in a non -safe way, can lead to serious consequences.One of them could become sexants, defined as the extortion exercised towards another person from the possession of intimate or sexual material.

This fact causes the blackmail victim to feel that his photographs can be sent to other people and suffer great humiliation.Therefore, the feeling of fear, helplessness and hopelessness generated can lead to sending photographs with increasingly explicit content, even being pressed to maintain sex.

Another risk is the sending of material of this type to the couple or friendships, since we think they are for a lifetime.The problem in this case occurs when these relationships are broken and revenge begin.This is when this material is usually used to denigrate and humiliate the ex -partner.

Sexting and cyberbullying

Therefore, in many occasions the practice of sexting usually becomes a cyberbullying situation, promoting public humiliation and devastating consequences, such as suicide.

This type of behavior can think that they affect children and girls in the same way, but it does not happen.In fact, when a sexual image of a girl is spread, for example on social networks, it usually produces a negative impact on her social reputation.On the other hand, if this content belongs to a boy she usually generates a positive impact on her reputation.Thus, gender stereotypes remain in force in our society and continue to promote serious psychosocial consequences in women.

Secondly, the lack of sex education is leading to adolescents to form their sexual ideology through the consumption of the material they visualize on social networks.Therefore, the increase in pornography consumption is leading to generating distorted ideas about sexuality.In this way, we are seeing how teenagers consider violent sexual practices such as their sexual fantasies.

Boys, girls and sexualization on social networks

In addition, in studies differences between the sexual socialization of girls and boys are observed, having both different and opposite sexual fantasies.On the other hand, the association of the submissive role of some women in sex means that they often accept those sexual fantasies of the boys who do not generate pleasure.In this way, we observe in pornography the reproduction of existing gender stereotypes in our society.

Taking into account all these aspects, the prevention of this type of behavior must be a priority to be able to alleviate the devastating consequences generated by these behaviors.To do this, sex education and prevention programs must be generated by risky behaviors through a gender perspective.

In these times when relationships through social networks have been enhanced in a very intense way due to pandemic it is necessary for families to exercise extreme surveillance about young people to avoid unnecessary risks.

Christian Moreno Lara, International Academic Responsible and Director of the Legal Area of the International University of Valencia, International University of Valencia and Laura Carrascosa Iranzo, coordinator of the University Master in Criminology: Crime and Victimology, International University of Valencia of Valencia

This article was originally published in The Conversation.Read the original.

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