The internet has areas that appeal to all the most important sides of our lives, including relationships and sex. There are a few different sides to relationships and sex on the internet - some can be helpful, some not. The aspects of sex that are most popular on the internet are:
The internet has become an important part of our lives, and now, most teens in developed countries use the internet every day. It has been predicted that by 2012, a quarter of the world's population will be using the internet regularly.
Although the internet can be very useful, as it has grown, the portrayal of sex on the internet hasn't always been responsible. This page contains some simple tips on internet safety for teens. It gives advice on accessing sexual health information, safe internet use, and how to find what you're looking for online here are a large number of resources for teens available on the internet.
On the subjects of 'sex' and 'relationships', sites often give help, advice or information. This type of information seems to be very important to teens - an American survey found that 75% of young people use the internet to look for health information.
The availability of this kind of information on the internet can be particularly important for teens living in areas where access to health information is more scarce. A study in Ghana found that 53% of teens used the internet to find health information, and that it was a particularly important source for young people who were not attending school.
It's all very well if the information is accurate, but there's no way of knowing that what you read about sex on the internet is true. Anyone can put up a web page claiming that you won't get pregnant if you have sex standing up, for example - but that doesn't make it true! (It isn't true, by the way!) Just because something's on the internet doesn't mean it's correct. If you're looking for information about something important, try to double-check on more than one site, to make sure that it is trust worthy.
Some sites might give (or not give) you certain information about sex and relationships for a reason of their own. For example, some religious organisations don't believe in sex before marriage. If one of these organisations runs a website, can you be sure that it'll give you the full info on how to have safer sex, for example? Even worse, can you be sure that it won't give you wrong information, to try and put you off having sex?
Some websites – including some religious ones – give really good, honest information about sex and relationships. But how do you know which ones are honest and which ones aren't? Sometimes you can find out stuff about who made the site by clicking the about us link - most websites have one. Another way to find a reliable website can be to ask a teacher, or your doctor to recommend a good one.
To find what you want using a search engine, you have to use the right keywords. For example, if you just type "teen sex" into the search box, you'll probably notice that there are a lot of websites about 'teen sex' that don't give any advice at all – and, unless you're looking for pornography, they won't be any help to you. Try using different words, as well as teen or sex - words like advice, help, or information.
The most common thing you might find on the internet when looking for information and advice about sex, is pornography ('porn' for short). 'Porn' can come in the form of sexual pictures, writing, photos or films. It can be annoying, especially if you're looking for something else. In the UK, 57% of teens reported coming across pornography online while they looked for other things . That's not really surprising, as there are millions of porn sites on the web, generating billions of dollars. Some people find looking at sex on the internet exciting, but there are some important things you need to know about porn.
Anyone with a computer and Internet access can create a Web site, so judging the trustworthiness of scientific and health-related sites becomes the responsibility of each individual user. The following questions and answers serve as a starting point for evaluating medical Web sites.
A responsible Web site should identify and describe the sponsoring organization as well as provide contact information that visitors can use to ask questions, request additional information, or send comments about site content.
Government-sponsored publications and Web sites are often good sources for scientifically sound health and medical information. Private practitioners or lay organizations may have marketing, social, or political agendas that can influence the type of material they offer on-site and which sites they link to.
A reputable organization will not position itself as the sole source on a particular health topic and will link to complementary sources of information. Links alone are not a guarantee of reliability; any Web site can link to other sites, including those that contain questionable information.
Health-related claims that you find on the Web should be supported by legitimate research and medical institutions or peer-reviewed, scholarly publications. The following guides contain tips and criteria for distinguishing popular or trade magazines from scientific, scholarly journals.
Whenever you are researching a condition that affects you or someone you know, even if health-related information comes from a source that is reputed to be reliable, always check with a doctor to make sure that it is appropriate for your situation.
Generally, the more current the site, the more likely it is to provide timely material. Ideally, health and medical sites should be updated weekly or monthly.
If a site contains several grammatical, spelling, or other errors, it shows that the content has not been carefully reviewed, and therefore its accuracy may be questionable.
These features can be useful in clarifying and explaining medical conditions and procedures, but they should not substitute for information based on sound medical or scientific evidence.
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