Exposure to pornography among adolescents has become so common that it’s been described as a normative experience by experts in child safety and child development. According to 2008 data, 93% of boys and 62% of girls are exposed to pornography during their adolescence. Although boys are much more frequent consumers of porn, many girls check it out at the request of their boyfriends or just out of curiosity. That means all kids need to hear the truth about pornography and how it’s affecting their emerging sexuality.
Conversations about pornography are awkward, no doubt. But it can be part of a larger discussion about healthy sexual development. As with other “sex talks,” this is not ONE conversation, but an ongoing dialogue...