"As a sex therapist, I'm regularly surprised at how many parents think they still have time for the talk, even though their children have likely already been exposed to porn, at least from a statistical perspective. The average age of first exposure to pornography is now just 12, with 45 percent of kids reporting they learned helpful information about sex from porn (Robb & Mann, 2023)."
"One of the most powerful psychological barriers is our reluctance to see our children as sexual beings. For many parents, the idea that their child might have sexual feelings or curiosity is deeply unsettling. This discomfort often leads to euphemisms, skipped conversations, and a desperate hope that "innocence" will last a little longer. But, as research shows, children's curiosity about bodies and relationships is natural and developmentally appropriate."
Early exposure to pornography often occurs around age 12, with 45 percent of children reporting they learned helpful information about sex from porn. Parents commonly postpone or avoid conversations about sex, treating "the talk" as a one-off or not having it at all. Discomfort, denial, and cultural taboo drive avoidance. Many parents find the idea of children as sexual beings deeply unsettling, leading to euphemisms, skipped conversations, and hopes that innocence will last. Parents often fear that talking about sex will put ideas into children's heads, yet open, age-appropriate conversations delay sexual debut and better prepare children.
Read at Psychology Today
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