Young people form attitudes about sex earlier

“New research has warned that young people are forming their attitudes about sex, gender and relationships younger than ever, prompting calls for earlier, more comprehensive and more honest respectful relationships education in schools. The report, Young people, online worlds and respectful relationships: What the research tells us , from Our Watch and the University of Melbourne’s Youth Research Collective, brings together national and international evidence on how children and adolescents experience relationships, gender norms and digital cultures. It paints a picture of young people having positive relationship experiences and encountering significant risks, including unwanted sex, harmful stereotypes and gender‑based violence, often at a young age. Our Watch chief Patty Kinnersly said that the report’s findings reinforce that “gender-based violence doesn’t start in adulthood. It is shaped by the attitudes, norms and behaviours that young people are exposed to early in life.” “Many young people are having positive and respectful relationships. But too many are also experiencing unwanted sex, harmful stereotypes and violence, often at a young age.” Early experiences, early risks The research shows young people are often starting romantic relationships between ages 10 and 13, with sexual activity commonly starting around 15. Nearly one in three young people who have had sex report experiencing unwanted sex, and some encounter it before age 14. Young women, transgender young people and non‑binary young people are disproportionately affected. According to the data, digital environments are intensifying these risks. Young people are encountering image‑based abuse, coercive sexting and deepfake technologies, alongside the growing influence of online misogyny. Exposure to pornography begins early (on average at 13.6 years old) and is shaping expectations around sex, consent and gender roles. The report notes that digital technologies now play a central role in how young people form friendships, relationships and beliefs about gender and sexuality. Online spaces can offer privacy, connection and support, particularly for young people who face stigma offline. But they might also expose young people, especially girls, to technology‑facilitated abuse and increasingly violent content. University of Melbourne Emeritus Professor Helen Cahill said the report provides ways to make meaningful changes. “More than ever, we need evidence about what young people are experiencing online,” she said. “This timely report responds to these questions. It provides an accessible overview, which shows both cause for concern, and implications for action. It provides a call to action, and a solid grounding to inform a shift from ‘what’s wrong?’ to ‘what works?’.” The report shows that young people consistently express a desire for education that reflects their lived experiences, including their online lives, and that acknowledges diverse identities and relationships. They want opportunities to explore questions about gender, sexuality, power and boundaries, and they want teachers who are confident, informed and comfortable guiding these discussions. “They want to understand boundaries, respect, pleasure and power, and they want support to navigate what they’re seeing online,” Ms Kinnersly said. Schools are a critical Because many young people’s first intimate feelings and relationships emerge in primary school, the report argues that age‑appropriate teaching must begin early and continue across developmental stages. Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) is identified as a key evidence‑based framework. The report emphasises that it equips young people with the skills and knowledge needed to prevent gender‑based violence, challenge harmful norms and build equitable, respectful relationships. It calls for whole‑of‑school approaches, stronger consent education, integration of digital literacy and online safety, and open, inclusive conversations about sex, relationships, power and pleasure. “Primary prevention is about stopping violence before it starts,” Ms Kinnersly said. “This report shows us exactly where we need to act – and the opportunity we have to support young people to build a future based on respect, equality and safety.”

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