Mr Geiser, does early porn consumption harm children?
Lukas Geiser, what makes today's young people tick when it comes to love, relationships and sexuality?
The way I see it - and surveys also show this - the majority of young people think quite traditionally. They want partnerships, a fulfilling love life and dream of a family. But there are also young people who prefer to try things out and enjoy diversity. Today, they have many more opportunities to do this than previous generations.
Do parents still play a role in sex education in the Internet age?
Even before the internet existed, teenagers obtained information from other sources such as magazines and books. It's important that you don't just get information from your parents as you get older. Nevertheless, they play a central role. They continue to serve as role models and show interest in the child and their life through their willingness to talk. Anyone who has never shared experiences or felt interest from their parents will hardly be thrilled when their mum or dad suddenly wants to talk to them about sex.
According to a study, a large proportion of girls are educated at home - primarily by their mothers - while boys tend to get their information at school, from friends or online. Why is that?
There are various reasons for this. One is the parents' fear that their daughter could become pregnant, another is the onset of menstruation. Mothers are more likely to talk to their daughters about this. There is also the fear of sexual violence, the idea that girls need to be protected. With boys, you tend to think that they'll realise what's going on.
Boys are just as insecure as girls, especially in times of the «me too» debate.
The crucial point must be that, regardless of gender, we first talk about how to approach other people with respect, about consent and equality, before telling boys to keep their hands to themselves and girls to defend themselves against assaults. Then they can assess much better which behaviour they can tolerate and which they want to defend themselves against. If you only talk to the children about assaults in connection with sex and leave out the nice part, this naturally triggers insecurity.
The majority of 15-year-old boys claim to have seen porn before. Not even half of them have had physical contact with a girl. Why is the gap between virtual and real life so big?
Children consume media because they have access to it. This is not bad per se. They also consume things that they may not want or be able to experience in reality. We all do this, by the way, and in all areas - hardly anyone who watches an action film wants to have a similar experience in real life.
What impact does this have on their sexuality if the children have seen everything in theory before they have any practical experience?
It is very difficult for them to find out what they really want and what they don't want. The fact that young people already have an idea of sexual practices before they become sexually active is not a bad thing. But they can hardly process the amount of information they are confronted with today. That's where they need our help.
It is not a bad thing that young people have an idea of sexual practices before they become sexually active
Is early porn consumption harmful to children?
There is no yes or no answer to this question. We are talking here about potential impact. We know from research that the bond with the parents and the relationship experience of the children have an influence on the effect of such things. Children who have the ability to categorise what they see are generally better able to deal with pornography. Others struggle with stereotypical role models, the pressure to be physically perfect or the pressure to perform. Classification also means that you can talk about what you have seen and then know that porn is a film that, like other films, is shot with actors who do not feel any pleasure at that moment.
You could often be forgiven for thinking you've landed on a porn channel when you look at the social media profiles of certain young people. Why do they stage themselves like this?
Young people have always sought recognition and social resonance. Today, in our digitalised world, the majority of young people are guided by media role models. The more recognition children receive in other areas - at school or at home - the less important it is to generate it via social media.
And why do young people produce and pass on naked pictures despite all the warnings?
Quite simply because boys and girls find this exciting and sometimes also pleasurable. The consensual production of nude images is not reprehensible per se. Nudity and the recognition and appreciation of the body are an important aspect of a positive body image. However, it is crucial that parents show their children what can happen with these images and why their «proof of love» may be misused. This is the only way to protect them from such experiences during the fragile teenage years.
Do you think that children and young people who grow up as «digital natives» will have a different relationship to sexuality as adults than the generation before them?
Yes and no. Sexual feelings don't actually change, but social trends do change and influence behaviour. People will still want to be loved, fall in love and fulfil their sexual desires in the future. With the medialised openness of sexuality, this can be exhausting and shameful - as it was in the era of total taboo - but it can also be liberating and pleasurable.
