How does social media/Internet portray myths around sexuality in the different cultures and how you as a teacher has to demystify it for yourself and learners?

How does social media/Internet portray myths around sexuality in the different cultures and how you as a teacher has to demystify it for yourself and learners

 

Today children and youngsters live in complex media-saturated environments impacted by television, digital video recorders, computers, the Internet, iPods, printed media, et cetera. The accessibility of the Internet opens a new world of information to users, but, at the same time, assumes that users have the ability and sense of responsibility not to watch and engage with negative or destructive information. The Internet provides easy access to pornography which can have far-reaching effects, especially for children and teenagers. The media are inseparably part of their daily lives. Now many children are spending much time on social media, over the years social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whats-app you tube e.t.c) has played a role on how other cultures believe on sexuality. Social media for instance Facebook spreads myths that homosexual is accepted in some culture. It helps shape our view of the world and our deepest values specifically on sexuality; what we consider good or bad, positive or negative, moral or evil on sexuality by different cultures. Adolescents and young adults who use the Internet the most, particularly those who use it to connect with others for romantic or sexual relationships, are at highest risk of being exposed to unwanted material or solicitations. Because the Internet offers a variety of models for connecting with others and provides the "three As"—Accessibility, Affordability, and (perceived) Anonymity—it is attractive (particularly for those who feel isolated or marginalized) as a way to "try out" relationships. Problems have arisen, however, when youth try to transform Internet-established connections into face-to-face relationships. 

In my practice I have seen numerous teens from as young as 11 who become involved in very disturbing sexual situations, for example teens photographing each other having sexual intercourse, orgies, having oral sex, etc and selling it as pornography on the internet. (Yoro Bodut 2006)

Similarly, a sexologist and relationship therapist based in Pretoria says she is:

not surprised that teenagers indulge in these sexual activities as it seems that ‘everything goes’. With the access to media, a lack of healthy sex education, porn on the internet and cell phones, teenagers have become sexually desensitised. (Yoro Bodut 2006)

Demystify myths on sexuality

We would also be foolish to ignore the impact that social media and technology have on our students in this day and age – the advent of social media has brought an added dimension (and pressure) to their lives. This should form a core part of modern, age appropriate, sex education, along with relationships and body image. Teachers needs to talk to their learner about sex and teach them disadvantages of sex at early stage or at law grade so that when a children will come up at stage which she or he will be sexual active she know it already.