We are seeing more and more children and young people develop distorted and dangerous views on relationships and sex because of inappropriate social media content and easy access to pornography. In May 2023 the Children’s Commissioner published the second in a series of reports exploring the impact of pornography on children. The report ‘Evidence on pornography’s influence on harmful sexual behaviour among children’ makes recommendations on the importance of robust and effective RSHE surrounding pornography and harmful sexual behaviours.
“Children are seeing pornography too young – most of them by the age of 13 but [some are] seeing it at eight or nine.
Most children see porn first on Twitter – and then on Snapchat, as well as accessing the porn companies”
Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel De Souza
Exposure to explicit or violent content at a young age can negatively impact children’s understanding of healthy relationships, body image and sexuality. This exposure can also lead to a distorted perception of reality because of how social media often presents an idealised version of life, leading children to compare themselves to others and others and develop unrealistic expectations. This can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction.
Looking to improve the quality of PSHE & RSHE Education in your school by improving the confidence of your teachers in PSHE Delivery ? Our whole staff INSET would be ideal for your school. Find out more here.
JMC PSHE Team
This INSET explores practical strategies to help schools tackle the dangers posed by social media and porn to children’s perceptions and expectations. Focusing on the law, school policy and process, RSE and PSHE curriculum, support mechanisms, increasing misogyny and home/school communication, this INSET helps schools be proactive in helping children understand their feelings and responses and create a positive environment for all.
Social Media INSET Outline
Our workshops and INSET delivery is matched to your organisation’s needs by offering combinations of the modules listed below:
Social Media: Breaking the Loop
Exploring how schools can educate and inform pupils about how social media creates an increasingly closed, narrow cycle of exposure and how porn industry representations are fictionalised and reinforce negative associations (90 mins).
Tackling Cyberbullying
Considering how social media provides a platform for cyberbullying, where children can be subjected to harassment, threat or humiliation. We consider how school policy and process can address the anonymity and distance provided by online platforms which intensifies the impact of such bullying, leading to psychological distress, anxiety and depression (90 mins).
Pornography
Exploring different strategies to address difficult topics to enable staff to educate pupils about issues of consent and sexual violence. This specifically addresses the damage done by easy exposure to inappropriate representations online (90 mins).
Online Privacy concerns
Schools have a vital role to play in supporting children who may not fully understand the importance of privacy online and may unknowingly share personal information or engage in risky behaviour. This can expose them to potential dangers such as identity theft, online predators, or reputational harm (90 mins).
Social Media Addiction and excessive screen time
Social media and pornography can be highly addictive, leading to excessive screen time and neglect of other activities such as physical exercise, hobbies or face-to-face social interactions. This can affect their academic performance, sleep patterns, and overall well-being. This model explores strategies schools can employ to address this serious issue (90 mins).
Impaired social skills
Following the experience of the pandemic, schools understand how isolation negatively affects children. Many children are spending excessive time on social media and engaging with explicit content which can hinder the development of essential social skills. This module focuses on how they may struggle with face-to-face communication, empathy and forming meaningful relationships offline (90 mins).
Find out more about our extensive range of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion CPD here
If you are a SLT member or EDI lead looking to arrange an EDI Review, more information can be found here
JMC EDI Team
