By Floyd Godfrey, PhD

When Curiosity Becomes Confusion
In an age of nearly unrestricted digital access, adolescents are often introduced to pornography well before they are emotionally or cognitively mature. The early teenage years, marked by emotional vulnerability and identity formation, are particularly sensitive to external influences. For many teens, exposure to pornography does not provide education or empowerment, it introduces confusion, fear, and even trauma.

Martellozzo et al. (2017) conducted one of the UK’s most comprehensive studies into adolescent exposure to online pornography and revealed how disorienting these early encounters can be. One teenager admitted, “At first I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it, my mates have talked about watching it so I don’t feel bad watching it now” (p. 32). This quote captures the tension between personal discomfort and peer normalization, a dynamic that leads many young people to dismiss their initial emotional reactions in favor of fitting in.

The Emotional Fallout
Pornography's impact is not just intellectual; it deeply affects how young people feel about themselves and their developing sense of sexuality. One 11- to 12-year-old girl shared a disturbing response to an unintentional viewing experience: “I didn’t like it because it came on by accident and I don’t want my parents to find out and the man looked like he was hurting her, he was holding her down and she was screaming and swearing. I know about sex but it didn’t look nice. It makes me feel sick if I think about my parents doing it like that” (Martellozzo et al., 2017, p. 33).

This account highlights the emotional chaos that can result from graphic exposure. The language used—hurt, screaming, sick—is not indicative of curiosity or exploration, but of emotional distress and trauma. Rather than serving as a model for relational intimacy, pornography often confronts young viewers with distorted depictions of sex that provoke fear and disgust.

Behavioral Influence and Emulation
The confusion does not end with emotions. Adolescents also begin to internalize behavioral scripts from the pornographic content they view. Martellozzo et al. (2017) found that “substantial minorities of older children wanted to try things out they had seen in pornography” (p. 10). This trend is deeply troubling. At a time when they are only beginning to navigate real relationships, teens may adopt exaggerated or harmful sexual behaviors, believing them to be expected or normal.

This emulation reveals a disconnect between sexual development and healthy education. Without guided conversations, many adolescents fill in the blanks using the only "education" they have access to—pornography. But these materials often exclude critical aspects such as consent, emotional intimacy, and mutual respect.

Support Through Education and Therapeutic Insight
Mental health professionals, parents, and educators must recognize the profound confusion that arises when pornography becomes a child's first sexual educator. Therapeutic approaches informed by experts emphasize the importance of relational repair and emotional validation in treatment.

Coaching and counseling strategies must begin by helping teens name what they felt during their exposure (e.g., fear, disgust, curiosity) and then reframe those experiences through a healthier lens. Psychoeducation, empathy-based discussion, and emotional regulation tools are essential. Teens need a space to deconstruct what they’ve seen and reconstruct their values around relationships, consent, and identity.

Restoring Clarity and Confidence
Exposure to pornography in adolescence is not a minor event. For many, it introduces uncertainty, guilt, and misinformed behaviors. But with the right intervention and supportive guidance, young people can regain clarity and develop a confident, healthy understanding of sexuality. These conversations, though uncomfortable, are necessary. It is not enough to block access. Adults must engage and educate, transforming confusion into clarity and emotional isolation into connectedness.

Floyd Godfrey, PhD is a Clinical Sexologist and a Certified Sex Addiction Specialist. He has been guiding clients since 2000 and currently speaks and provides consulting and mental health coaching across the globe. To learn more about Floyd Godfrey, PhD please visit his website: www.FloydGodfrey.com.

References
Martellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2017, June 11). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it.” figshare.