Over Half Of Teenage Boys Think Sex Portrayed In Porn Is Real

Porn is a very complex topic. It can certainly be viewed for pleasure, but it can also be damaging -- evidently to young people who aren't aware that much of it is fake.

A new study from the UK reports that 53 percent of teenage boys and 39 percent of teenage girls, all ages 11 to 16, think sex portrayed in porn is real. The results come from an online survey of approximately 1,000 participants.

The study also reported that 44 percent of boys and 29 percent of girls said porn gave them ideas for sex acts they want to try out. These desires increase with age, going from 21 percent of 11 to 12 year olds, to 39 percent of 13 to 14 year olds, to 42 percent of 15 to 16 year olds. This is problematic, considering much of what is portrayed in porn is overly aggressive and misogynist.

This is not to say that sex can't involve aggression or misogyny -- sexual fantasies, even of the more offensive variety, are completely healthy and normal -- but there needs to be consent, respect and a conversation about boundaries. And I don't know about you, but I haven't seen many actors in porn films discuss consent or ask if "this is OK" before they violently deep throat somebody.

This is one of the millions of reasons why schools need to start teaching media literacy and proper sex ed.

Citations: More Than Half of Teen Boys Think Porn Is Realistic (Teen Vogue)