The influence of pornography is considered a major cause of the decline in condom use among teenagers.
A BBC report on Wednesday reveals a steady decrease in condom usage among teenagers over the past decade.
Sarah Peart, a sexual health educator at the YMCA, explains that some teens are not willing to use condoms “because they’re not seeing that in pornography.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported a significant decline in condom use among teenagers over the past ten years. In 2022, only 61% of 15-year-old boys and 57% of girls reported using condoms, a significant drop from the previous year’s rates of 70% and 63%, respectively.
Peart highlighted that the issue extends beyond pornography, noting that social media and adult content platforms also contribute to this worrying trend. She added that influencers glamorizing unsafe sexual practices pose another problem. This concern was underscored by a recent incident where a woman stirred controversy by boasting online about having multiple sexual relations with young men in a single day.
She also warns against relying on tracking menstrual cycles for contraception, cautioning that it is not always reliable, especially for teenagers. She explains that their periods can be irregular, and young people may not be diligent in keeping accurate records, significantly increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancies.
A BBC survey highlights another obstacle: many young people feel embarrassed about buying condoms. Insufficient sex education in schools was also highlighted as a significant issue.
