Surrounded by unparalleled access to digital information, today’s teens still want to talk to adults about sex. So it’s imperative that we have those conversations at home, at school and in our communities.
Our children are growing up on Facebook and Google, said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., in a recent panel discussion: Sexual Health in the Digital Age, hosted by the Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
“The fact that our children are able to access any kind of content, any kind of unedited information, especially when it comes to their own sexual health, is something that we need to worry a lot about,” said Bennet, father of three daughters ages 7-12. “It’s not just about turning off the devices, because you can’t turn off the devices.”
Research with Colorado youth shows that many teens are going online as a starting point to find answers about sexual heath, said Greta Klingler of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
“But that wasn’t where they wanted to end,” Klingler said. Young people wanted to discuss what they learned with parents, partners, friends and health care providers — but didn’t know where to begin.
In response, the CDPHE created a website, , to give youth information about sexual health, including discussion prompts for starting their own conversations offline.
Today, 75 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 own a cellphone, and 87 percent sleep with it turned on by their beds, according to Planned Parenthood’s Responsible Sex Education Institute.
The Institute launched ICYC: In Case You’re Curious, a free texting service that answers young people’s questions about sexual health within 24 hours.
“Education is empowerment,” said Alison Macklin, director of the Responsible Sex Education Institute. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to know about their bodies and their health in order to make responsible decisions.”
State Sen. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, who spent more than 25 years working with the Boys and Girls Club to teach sexual health education to teens, said conversations need to be ongoing and lifelong.
But many parents worry that talking to their kids may encourage them to become sexually active, said Macklin. “What they don’t understand is that it’s really just giving them the tools to make decisions, whether it’s now or 10 years from now, so they can be informed.”
