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Online Predators, Porn, And Peer Pressure

by — Last updated: 2017-11-23 in Children's & Teens Health
Reviewed by Medical Team — 2017-11-23

Table of Contents

Are you a teen who has plenty of questions about romantic feelings and sex? This overview answers the questions teens usually ask in a no-nonsense, grown-up way.

Pedophiles And Sexual Abuse

Teens, like younger children, are at risk of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual touching or sex, whether it's done by someone who is the same age as you or someone who is much older. For now, I want to talk to you about sexual abuse committed by an adult (a pedophile).

It's always wrong for an adult to have sex or engage in sexual activities with a teen or a younger child, but it happens more often than you might think. One in three girls and one in six boys will have had sexual contact with an adult by the time they turn 18. Sexual predators who want to lure teens are almost always men, and they are usually someone you already know — not a stranger.[5]

READ Keeping Kids Safe From Sexual Predators - And Criminal Activity - On The Internet

What should you do if an adult tries to trick you into doing sexual things with them? Safety expert Gavin de Becker advises kids of all ages to tell the predator: "Stop, or I'll tell." That's a good deal for the predator, who might think you won't tell if they stop. Of course, his next bit of advice is to tell anyway. Tell your parents, another trusted adult, the police, or anyone else who will listen.

What if it's already too late, and you have suffered sexual abuse?

The most important thing any young person should know about sexual abuse is that it is never their fault.

No, not even if they initially said they wanted to do it, or were threatened or bribed. It's not you who should be ashamed — it's the person who did it to you. Sexual abuse is a crime punishable by prison time, and the police can help you make sure the person who committed a crime against you or tried ends up behind bars. 

To read more about ways in which sexual criminals try to lure teens, I refer you to the Teen Lures Prevention website, which is written for teens by experts. You can find them in the links box below, or by Googling.

READ What Every Parent Should Know About Pedophiles

Online Predators And Porn

Most sexual abuse is, as I said, done by someone a child already knows. In this internet age, there is also another type of predator you should know about — an internet predator. These adults may disguise themselves as teens your age on the internet, or slowly talk you into trusting them. You may chat with them and think they're really nice.

You may be tempted to meet a person you met online, only to find out they are way older than they said they were. 

These pedophiles want one thing for sure: to have sex with you. Some can go even further, and want to abduct you or kill you. The message is simple. Never meet anyone you met online in person, or at the very least not without your parents present. Actually, never talk to strangers about sex on the internet at all, because this can be very dangerous. 

Porn is another modern-age problem. Studies have shown that many boys and some girls watch online porn, out of curiosity or to get information about sex. Porn is actually very damaging, and the things you can see in porn movies are nothing like real sex. People who act in porn films are often victims themselves, and acting in porn movies can cause real psychological problems for those people. Please stay away from porn. 

Peer Pressure

Your boyfriend or girlfriend may try to pressure you into doing sexual things you don't want to do. A recent study showed that as many as one in 10 teens tried to get someone to kiss, touch or have sex with them even when they knew the other person didn't want to. 

It's not just a boyfriend or girlfriend who might pressure you, though. Some "friends" make fun of you if you are still a virgin and try to get you to "become a grown-up" by having sex. You don't have any obligation to go along with that type of pressure from friends or romantic partners.

If you stick to your own beliefs and listen to your feelings by not being bullied into sex you don't want, I promise you won't regret it when you are an adult. 

Well, I think that covers the basics. If you are a teen who has a question that wasn't answered in this article, do feel free to leave a comment and I'll be happy to help you.