How Media Is Fueling A Risky Sexual Practice Among Teens

In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with author Peggy Orenstein about a media-fueled risky sexual practice that is happening among some teens today — choking, also called sexual strangulation. Orenstein, who has spent many years researching sexuality among youth for her books “Girls and Sex” and “Boys and Sex,” investigated the topic of sexual choking for a New York Times article that was published last month. Today, Orenstein shares some of her findings from that investigation, including the influence of pornography and other media on this new trend.  What are the psychological and physical risks of this practice? And what are ways to have productive conversations with young people on this and related topics? This episode also includes a 19-year-old discussing her concerns about sexual choking. This episode is intended for adult audiences.  Featured Expert Peggy Orenstein Research References The Troubling Trend in Teen Sex -New York Times Article by Peggy Orenstein What is rough sex, who does it, and who likes it? Findings from a probability sample of US undergraduate students (Archives of Sexual Behavior) Additional Links  Yes Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know about Today’s Teens and Sex, by Debby Herbenick Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between,  by Shafia Zaloum Want Me by Tracy, by Clark Flory Girls and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein  Boys and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein Time Code 00:00 Introduction to the Screenagers Podcast 00:17 The Shocking Reality of Choking in Sexual Encounters Among Youth 01:18 Mainstream Media's Role in Normalizing BDSM and Choking 02:02 Insightful Conversation with Peggy Ornstein on Sexual Strangulation 05:42 The Alarming Data on Choking Among College Students 07:42 The Influence of Media and Social Media on Sexual Behavior 13:24 Addressing the Risks and How to Talk About Them 20:56 Empowering Youth to Speak Out and Advocate for Safety 24:12 Concluding Thoughts and Resources for Challenging Conversations