Pornography at the click of a button? A review of the recent literature on Spanish adolescents

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides constant, immediate access to a wide range of information and resources. Adolescents, usually considered digital natives, use technological media and virtual spaces to explore their sexual selves by accessing pornographic content. The literature review presented in this paper has a twofold objective: to evaluate the consumption of pornography among Spanish adolescents, and to analyse the associated variables from a gender perspective. The study consists of a systematic review of papers on Spanish adolescents published between 2016 and 2020. The results show that users access pornographic content for the first time at the age of 12 on average, and that consumption of pornography becomes established during adolescence, especially in the case of men, who are the main consumers. The findings also show that pornography is a source of information for many adolescents who do not receive sufficient sexual education either at home or at school. The consumption of pornography during adolescence is associated with a range of consequences, including sexism, violence and substance use, and can lead to a distorted view of sexuality. The situation revealed by these findings highlights the need to support sexual education within the family and at school in order to equip young people with the necessary tools to enjoy their sexuality in a full and responsible way.