Sexual content

In media discourse, sexual content is material depicting sexual behavior. The sexual behavior involved may be explicit, implicit sexual behavior such as flirting,[1] or include sexual language and euphemisms.[2]

Sexual content is a large factor in most content rating systems, such as those used for television programs, films, and video games. Its increasing availability, especially the Internet, has increased people's exposure to sexual content. Such exposure is not always wanted.[1]

Research has suggested that exposure to sexual content affects people's thoughts and behavior, though there is disagreement as to the extent of the effect.[2] Gert Martin Hald, a psychologist at the University of Copenhagen, who authored a study which found that watching "sexually explicit media" only accounted for 0.3 to 4 percent of behavior changes, said, "Our data suggest that other factors such as personal dispositions — specifically sensation-seeking — rather than consumption of sexually explicit material may play a more important role in a range of sexual behaviors of adolescents and young adults."[3]

  1. ^ a b Brown, Jane D. (February 2002). "Mass Media Influences on Sexuality". The Journal of Sex Research. 39 (1). Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 42–45. doi:10.1080/00224490209552118. JSTOR 3813422. PMID 12476255. S2CID 6342646.
  2. ^ a b Taylor, Laramie D. (May 2005). "Effects of Visual and Verbal Sexual Television Content and Perceived Realism on Attitudes and Beliefs". The Journal of Sex Research. 42 (2). Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 130–137. doi:10.1080/00224490509552266. JSTOR 3813149. PMID 16123843. S2CID 144938495.
  3. ^ Pappas, Stephanie (25 April 2013). "Teen Sex Study Shows Racy Movies & Online Content Have Little Effect On Adolescent Sexuality". LiveScience. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 28 April 2013.