Pornography should be part of the sex education curriculum because ‘it is a reality of modern living’.

That’s according to the Executive Director of Cork’s Sexual Health Centre.

Dr Martin Daveron said teenagers’ access and use of porn is an “epidemic” and warned that sexual health and wellbeing education often neglects this.

“We roll out a number of education programmes to young people,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“When we think of sexual health, we can think of it just in terms of sexually transmitted infections or the negative aspects of sexual wellbeing.

“But good sexual health and good sexual wellbeing must include things like pornography use considering it’s the number one searched thing on the internet every day.”

Experts have warned that porn is fuelling young men’s interest in violent sex and Dr Daveron said people “misconstrue [porn acting] for reality” and this distorts their view of sex and relationships.  

“It doesn’t really represent a good healthy relationship in the real world,” he said. 

“We don’t see people’s consent being given and received and heard on an ongoing basis.

“We don’t see good communication styles or a good communication cycle. 

“So, it is not a form of reality - I think that is one of the major challenges that we face.”

2ETY1YJ Pornhub company logo on a smartphone screen in a man's hand. Global internet video resource.

Dr Daveron believes not including it would be a disservice to young people. 

“When we think about ability to access good healthy relationships; it’s a strong sexual education curriculum that’s going to give us that and is going to enable young people to access good healthy relationships into the future. 

“Pornography… we also have to include that and talk about that in our sex education curriculum. 

“There is no point in avoiding it. It is a reality of modern living and we need to enable young people to navigate it safely.”