By Julia Maltais

Publié le 15 juin 2026

For many young people today, learning about sexuality does not start in school or with parents, it starts online with fake orgasms and fake pleasure.  

In 2026, it’s easier to have access to the internet and pornography has become one of the most common sources of information about sexuality for teenagers and young adults. The kids are seeing fake actions, and they directly think that it’s all true, and it’s like this in real life, but in reality, it's not and they are all surrounded with fake actions, fake feeling, and “perfect bodies.” Many are exposed to it at a very young age, sometimes before they really understand concepts like consent, emotional connection, or healthy relationships. While it is often seen as something private or harmless, its influence can go much further.  

While pornography is normalized today, it can shape unrealistic expectations and affect emotional self-confidence and social development of the teenagers in our society.  

First, pornography can influence how young people see relationships. In psychology, there is an idea that people learn how relationships work based on what they see around them. This includes media and online content. This means that if young people watch pornography, they may think it shows what a real relationship should look like. However, this is often not true. Pornography usually shows unrealistic situations and behaviours. According to Alberta Health Services, it can create false expectations and confusion, especially about consent and respect.   

To better understand this issue, I asked ChatGPT about the impact of pornography on teenagers. It explained that “pornography can create unrealistic expectations about relationships and influence how young people see consent, emotions, and body image” (OpenAI, 2026). This shows that pornography is not just entertainment, but something that can affect how young people understand relationships. When they see this kind of content often, it can change the way they think about what is normal, even if it is not realistic.  

The biggest problem is how easy it is to access pornography today. Young people can see this content at a very young age, often without looking for it. This means they are exposed to things they are not ready to understand. When there are no limits or guidance, it becomes harder for them to develop a healthy vision of relationships. There should be more control and better protection to limit access for younger audiences. At the same time, education is still important to help them understand what they see. 

In conclusion, pornography is not always harmful, but its accessibility makes its influence much stronger. When young people are exposed to it too early and too easily, it can affect how they see relationships and sexuality. This is why it is important to create better limits and also improve education on this topic. As someone who wants to study sexology at Université Laval, I believe this issue is important and needs more attention.  

Helping young people understand relationships in a healthy way should be a priority.  

BIBLIOGRAPHY

National Center for Biotechnology Information. (s.d.). [Article on sexual scripts and youth behavior]. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12515835/#:~:text=According%20to%20Simon%20and%20Gagnon's,of%20sexual%20scripts%20(14). 

This article explains that young people learn how to behave in relationships based on what they see in society and media, which can include pornography. 

ScienceDirect. (2024). [Article on the influence of pornography on youth attitudes and behaviors].https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013700624000459 

This study shows that pornography can influence young people’s attitudes, expectations, and behaviors related to relationships and sexuality. 

Alberta Health Services. (s.d.). Child and youth problematic online pornography.https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/amh/if-amh-ydt-fact-sheet-child-and-youth-problematic-online-pornography.pdf  

This report explains that early exposure to pornography can lead to unrealistic expectations, confusion about consent, and negative effects on youth development. 

CBC News. (s.d.). “We don't even know”: Researcher calls for more study on effect of pornography on teenagers.'We don't even know': Researcher calls for more study on effect of pornography on teenagers | CBC News  

This article explains that researchers still do not fully understand the long-term effects of pornography on teenagers and that more studies are needed.