In today’s world you can just go on the internet to learn about sexualtiy and romantic relationships. Personally it has taught me more about sexuality and relationships than an education class or having “the talk” by my parents. I feel that the internet will allow you to see or read explicit content without even looking for it. Going back to 7th and 8th grade, a website called wattpad was very popular among us girls because there was one direction fanfictions. We would read different one direction fanfictions but the one that opened a door for me and had me learn about sexuality and relationships due to the explicit content was “After” by Anna Todd. https://www.wattpad.com/story/5095707-after
I was not even looking for explicit content. I was innocently reading a fanfiction about Harry Styles and I stumbled across explicit content and I was only in 8th grade. This is a prime example of how technology and the internet opens doors to content like this for people at such a young age and they might not even be looking for it.
As I went into high school I started to watch youtubers like Sarah Baska and Tana Mongeau. They would openly talk about their relationships like it was normal. I was watching youtube at this point in my life because these people were funny to me and always made me laugh but they also told personal stories and content as well. This was one of the first videos Sarah Baska had openly talk about relationships but told the story in a comedic way to where it wasn’t so serious and still made me laugh. She made it seem normal and okay to talk about relationships. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybvb0_y8Tjk
I have never been curious or searched for explicit content like seeking out sex advice or looking for explicit content to read or watch. All explicit content I’ve came across on the internet was from famous people I follow on my social media. They are very open with their personal lives by telling sexual stories, being open about relationships they are in, or even simply sharing a picture of their body in a promiscuous way. Here is an example of how famous people will post pictures nowadays.
I feel like growing up it was always taught to cover up, don’t talk about sex, be modest, your relationships must be a certain way, you must act a certain way in relationships etc. But it seems as social media and the internet involved it became the complete opposite. Ive learned it’s okay to dress showing skin, its okay to love who you love, its okay to talk about sex etc. All of these things don’t make you a bad person, it makes you who you are and none of it makes you any less of a person.
Literature & the Internet 