Sexual Health Week 2025: Online Porn - Finding a Healthy Balance

Porn is everywhere online. For many young people, it can be one of the first ways they learn about sex - but it’s not always realistic, healthy, or safe. Used without reflection, it can set up harmful expectations about bodies, relationships, and consent. But with awareness and balance, it’s possible to build a healthier relationship with online content.

Why talk about porn?

Porn is one of the most searched-for topics on the internet. Young people today are more likely to see explicit content at a younger age than ever before. That can shape how they think about sex, relationships, and themselves. Talking openly about it helps remove shame and replaces it with understanding and choice.

Detoxing from porn

Sometimes porn can become overwhelming, or feel like it’s taking up too much headspace. Signs you might want a break include:

• Using porn more than you’d like or in situations where it doesn’t feel right.

• Feeling like porn is shaping how you see partners or relationships.

• Comparing yourself or others to what you see on screen.

Taking a detox doesn’t have to be forever. It could just mean giving yourself a week or month without watching, noticing how you feel, and seeing if it shifts your habits.

Using porn in a mindful way

If you choose to watch porn, there are ways to make it healthier:

• Pause and reflect: Ask yourself how the content makes you feel - about yourself, about others, about sex.

• Seek ethical porn: Look for content made by people who are paid fairly, perform safely, and choose to be there.

• Remember it’s entertainment: Just like films aren’t real life, porn isn’t a guidebook for sex. Bodies, pleasure, and relationships look different offline.

• Check in with yourself: If porn is leaving you feeling anxious, disconnected, or pressured, it may be time to reduce or step back.

For parents and carers: what to watch out for

It can feel daunting knowing your child may be exposed to porn. Some helpful steps include:

• Start conversations early: Talking about bodies, consent, and respect when children are young makes later chats about porn easier.

• Focus on values, not fear: Rather than scaring them, share what healthy relationships look like.

• Ask questions, don’t assume: Find out what they’ve seen, how it made them feel, and what questions they have.

• Encourage critical thinking: Remind them that porn isn’t real sex - it’s staged, edited, and doesn’t show consent or contraception clearly.

The takeaway

Porn isn’t going away - but shame and silence make it harder to navigate. By taking time to reflect, setting boundaries, and talking openly, young people can build healthier attitudes towards sex and relationships both online and offline.