One-in-five teens say they’ve learned from online porn

ONE fifth of all teenagers say they find online porn educational, a new study has found.

Boys are almost five times more likely to be influenced by internet pornography than girls, the research found. The report shows that youngsters increasingly turn to the web rather than parents or teachers for sex education.

It comes in the middle of a national debate on pornography following the Belfast rugby rape trial, in which Irish and Ulster rugby players were acquitted of rape but apologised for the vulgar porn-referencing group chats and messages.

Youth Work Ireland surveyed more than 1,000 young people, aged 14-24, over the last month, with 20% saying pornography was ‘useful’ in building up an understanding of human sexuality.

The largest youth organisation in Ireland also found that young people were far more likely to consult their peer group rather than find out facts from their parents or teachers. The Social Democrats said it was stark evidence that the sexual education provided to Irish youngsters is simply not good enough. ‘That 20% of youngsters reported finding pornography as a useful training tool is hugely concerning,’ said political director Anne-Marie McNally. ‘Pornography cannot be considered as a healthy way in which to learn about sex. Instead of comprehensive holistic sexual and relationships education, our youngsters are increasingly relying on a distorted, fake-news version.’

Education Minister Richard Bruton has ordered a review of sex education in Ireland. He also wants particular attention given to the issue of consent, which has become a topic of discussion in the wake of the Belfast rape trial.

The vast majority – more than 90% – of Irish teenagers say the internet is their most trusted source of information, the study found.