by Almost a fifth of teenagers say the internet is their main source of information about sexual health and healthy relationships, according to a survey.
Young people are turning to online sources to learn about relationships and sex, leaving them vulnerable to potentially “dangerous” and “unreliable” information, according to the Sex Education Forum charity.
A poll of 1,001 16- to 17-year-old students in England suggests that 30% of young people turned to social media as their main source of information about sexual orientation and gender identity, ahead of school (25%).
The survey, carried out by Censuswide for the charity in February, found that 22% of young people said that the internet was their main source of information on pornography, while 15% said they turned to pornography itself as their main source of information. the subject.
Around a fifth said social media and websites were their main source of information about unhealthy relationships (21%), healthy relationships (18%) and sexual health (18%).
The findings, shared with the PA news agency, come after the Government announced a review of its statutory relationship, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance for schools more than a year ago.
Delegates at the National Education Union’s annual conference last week warned that social media influencers such as Andrew Tate are contributing to the rise in sexism and misogyny facing young girls in schools.
The Sex Education Forum poll suggests that almost half of students did not learn anything or did not learn enough at school about power imbalances in relationships (49%), porn (49%) and how to access local sexual health services (46%).
More than two in five reported that they had learned nothing or not enough at school about boys’ and men’s attitudes and behavior towards girls and women (44%) and about gender identity (44%).
The charity’s report on relationship and sexuality education (RSE) said: “It is clear that schools feel insecure about the delivery of some areas of the curriculum which are statutory, but particularly taboo and political.
“The problem is that these gaps leave young people vulnerable to misinformation when seeking information from online sources such as social media, or not having access to advice at all.”
Last month, the Women and Equality Committee said there was overwhelming evidence that ECAs are “failing young people” as they warned of skyrocketing rates of sexually transmitted diseases,
More than four in five (81%) of the teenagers surveyed said they agreed that primary school children should be taught about the importance of consent to things like touching another person’s body, while 73% said that they believed they should be warned about the. Harms of pornography.
More than half (56%) said children should see examples of same-sex relationships – included in stories, scenarios and discussions – in primary schools, while 53% said children should learn what trans and non-binary means.
Teenage girls were more likely than their male peers to say that children should be taught the importance of consent in primary school (85% compared to 77%), according to the survey.
From September 2020, relationship and sexuality education is compulsory in secondary schools in England, and relationship education is compulsory in primary schools.
In March last year, Rishi Sunak announced a review of RSHE guidance for schools following concerns that children were being exposed to “inappropriate” content.
But a consultation on the guidance has yet to be published by the Department for Education (DfE).
When asked to choose from a list of possible actions the Government could take to help improve VET, more than half called for training for teachers to build more confidence in the subject (57% ), and flexibility for schools to cover OCG topics at the age. what their students need (52%).
Lucy Emmerson, chief executive of the Sex Education Forum, said: “More than a year after announcing a review of the subject, we are still waiting for the Government to release its promised consultation and renewed guidance for relationship and sexuality education (RSE).
“While we hope these will be launched after the Easter break, Westminster is delaying this critical review despite the increasingly complex relationship landscape for young people and the well-documented harms affecting them , from sexual abuse and violence to poor sexual health.
“I am concerned to learn that students feel that today’s biggest issues, including pornography and the attitudes of men and boys towards women and girls, are not being adequately covered.
“Hearing that young people look for questionable or even dangerous information on outlets such as social media to fill gaps on key subjects should be a wake-up call to the need for better provision from schools for the safety of our pupils.
“The Government must listen to the voices of young people and release improved guidance that deals with their realities – and soon.”
The charity wants the Government to prioritize flexible “age and grade” content and provide more teacher training.
Miss Emmerson said: “If young people’s views are neglected, the next generation will be left to rely on online sources of information that may be unreliable and ill-equipped for healthy relationships.”
Margaret Mulholland, inclusion specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “It is a big concern that children are turning to the internet for information about sex and relationship education as this information can be unreliable. and harmful.
“We are very concerned, in particular, about the rise of misogyny online and the impact this is having on the behavior of some young people.
“Schools have a vital role to play in providing reliable and responsible information on these issues through their relationship, sex and health education programmes.
“However, they have been poorly supported by the Government in terms of resources and training and are expected to deliver this sensitive and complex subject within tight timetables and major funding pressures.”
A Government spokesman said: “As part of the current review of the RSHE curriculum, we are looking at where certain topics can be strengthened, in a factual and age-appropriate way.
“We want to make sure all children are safe online and so, through the world-leading Online Safety Act, social media companies are required to protect children from being exposed to harmful content online, and the Education Secretary recently took strong action by vetoing the Online Safety Act. the use of mobile phones in schools.”
