A Parent’s Guide to Sex and Social Media

Social media has been a hot topic for the past decade, especially regarding parenting. According to the Pew Research Center survey, almost half of US teenagers aged 13-17 reported being online 'almost constantly.' So should parents be concerned about what their teens are exposed to on social media?

Social media has many pros for teens, such as connecting with others and being able to express yourself. It also comes with risks such as exposure to harmful content, self-esteem issues, and safety. A recent study revealed that nearly half (46%) of children and teens ages 13-17 saw content on social media that they believe should not be allowed. Even though these teens come across concerning content almost daily, only 7% said they report the posts. 1

Let's start with the facts.

Did you know that most social media platforms have a sex policy, specifically with visual content such as nudity and pornography? Although there are policies, the implementation of these policies aren’t perfect. Protect Young Eyes, an organization that seeks to defend kids from inappropriate and harmful internet content, reported five different hashtags on Instagram linked to pornography a minimum of 50 times over five days. During this length of time, no action was taken by Instagram. 2

Nudity is not the only concern on various platforms. Influencers and regular people are also posting their thoughts about sex. By the time today's young person reaches 19, they have been bombarded by easily accessible, graphic content that is being taught as 'good' sex. Some of these explicit contents are often aggressive and misogynistic and discuss spanking, anal sex, light choking, and much more. 3

Although most schools have some form of sex education, most curriculums focus on avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases rather than addressing healthy relationships. Unfortunately, many students are turning to social media to learn about sex: it's free, ubiquitous, and private.

So should you have your kids stop using social media entirely? Well, that's up to you, but various resources exist to set up parental locks within social media apps. No tool can replace having an educational and honest conversation about online safety, but setting up parental controls is a great asset. In August of 2022, Popular Science released a great article that helps navigate parental settings within the most common social media apps.

What’s next.

When you're unfamiliar with the social media apps your kids use, it can be challenging to know how to start the discussion. Screen Sanity, an organization that seeks to help families and communities pursue digital health, has created guides that help families take a 'driver's ed approach' to device introduction and safety.

Communicating about social media with your teen is just the start! We encourage you also to start or continue having conversations about sex and relationships with your kids. According to Harvard's 'Making Caring Common' project, subjects such as finding love, keeping love, and dealing with break-ups were questions that 70% of 18-25 year-olds wished their parents had discussed more with them.

Having the discussion.

So, how do you begin the social media conversation with your kids?

First, you'll need to take the most challenging step: start the discussion. This can be awkward and difficult at first, but it gets easier as you continue discussing what your teen or child sees on social media.

Not sure how to start or what questions to ask? The Family Dinner Project has a great blog that can help you start conversations based on specific social media situations. The most beneficial questions are not accusatory but inquisitive instead. Work to minimize the downside and maximize the upside of social media. Then come together for additional conversation where change is needed.

Is talking about sex and social media with your kids awkward and difficult? For most people, it is. But, don’t let that stop you. Start now and just keep building on it. Whether they seem interested or not, most likely, deep down they want to talk about it. You’ve got this!

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If you're considering the abortion pill, knowing what it actually involves is an important first step as you weigh your decision. Schedule a free, confidential appointment at Collage to talk through your questions and get accurate information at no cost. How the Abortion Pill Works The abortion pill uses two drugs taken at different times. Mifepristone , the first, blocks progesterone, a hormone the body needs to maintain a pregnancy. Without it, the pregnancy stops developing. The second drug, misoprostol , causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Risks and Side Effects Cramping and bleeding are expected parts of the process. Additional side effects can include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. Complications include: Incomplete abortion (pregnancy tissue remaining in the uterus) Heavy bleeding that does not stop Infection Without in-person medical care, distinguishing normal symptoms from those requiring urgent attention is difficult. Why Gestational Age and Pregnancy Location Matter The FDA approved the abortion pill through 10 weeks of gestation. It is important to know how far along you are for your health and safety as you move through making your next decisions. A limited OB ultrasound also screens for ectopic pregnancy , a pregnancy outside the uterus that the abortion pill cannot treat and requires urgent care. A positive test alone does not rule out an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage , since hCG can remain elevated after pregnancy loss. Getting the Full Picture Collage offers free pregnancy testing and limited OB ultrasounds to give you the medical details you need before deciding anything, whether you're considering parenting, adoption, or abortion. Schedule your free, confidential appointment at Collage today. Kindly call the numbers for the branch nearest to you: Kearney: (308) 234-9880 Grand Island: (308) 675-2217 All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.

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If you’ve recently learned you are pregnant unexpectedly, we understand how overwhelming this might feel right now. If you're considering abortion as an option, taking time to understand how the process works is important so you can make an informed decision. Collage is here to help provide you with confidential support and abortion information at no cost. We offer a safe space, free of judgment, where you can think calmly about your options, receive lab-quality pregnancy testing, and get a complimentary ultrasound so you can get the facts around your pregnancy and learn what options are available to you. Schedule your free appointment today. Medical Abortion Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, ends a pregnancy by using two drugs taken at different times. The first pill, mifepristone, works by blocking progesterone and causes the embryo’s death. The second drug, called misoprostol, is usually taken a day or two after and causes the uterus to contract, expelling the pregnancy tissue through cramping and bleeding. Common side effects can include bleeding and cramping, bleeding with blood clots, and a low-grade fever. Medical abortion is only approved through ten weeks of gestation by the FDA . Follow-up care is typically recommended after a medical abortion to make sure the process is complete. Surgical Abortion Surgical abortion terminates a pregnancy in a clinic or medical setting and involves removing pregnancy tissue from the uterus through a suction device or a tool called a curette. This can also be called dilation and evacuation or dilation and curettage . Common side effects of surgical abortions are bleeding and cramps. You may also have a late or early period as your uterus has to build a new lining after the procedure. What Are The Risks Of Abortion? Medical and surgical abortion both have possible risks that you should be aware of. Some women may also experience emotional responses afterward. Complications that can arise from abortion are: Infection. Scar tissue on the uterine wall, known as Asherman's syndrome . Heavy bleeding that may not stop. Diarrhea and digestive pain. An incomplete abortion. Confirm Your Pregnancy With An Ultrasound Before making a pregnancy decision, it is important to verify your pregnancy with an ultrasound. An ultrasound provides important medical details such as how far along you are, the location of the pregnancy, and whether a heartbeat is detected. These details are important since the abortion pill is not FDA-approved for over ten weeks, and it also rules out ectopic pregnancy, which requires urgent medical attention. As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and you can still get a positive pregnancy test result for days or weeks after a miscarriage because it takes time for hCG to leave the body. An ultrasound will confirm whether or not you have miscarried. We provide no-cost pregnancy services at our center, including limited OB ultrasounds, so you can get informed about your pregnancy and options. Get Pregnancy Support at College If you're considering your next step after learning you are unexpectedly pregnant, we are here to give you a safe place to ask questions and learn more about your options. Collage provides confidential appointments and no-cost pregnancy services, including medical-grade pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and STD testing . You don’t have to figure this out alone. We are here to listen. Schedule your free confidential appointment to learn more about your options. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.