Channel 4 Joy of Teen Sex 10pm Wed

[leonine98]

Has anyone seen this programme and what did you think? I have a 16 year old daughter who recorded it to watch as it is going viral amongst that age group. I saw recording first and was deeply disturbed. Advice was given on what to do if your boyfriends 'come' tastes bad, how to penetrate anally and a young 17 year old lesbian was shown how to wear a strap on dildo. Articles on how to jazz up your vagina and have a Prince Albert's fitted to your willie also included. Quite understand that some may want this information but all this stuff is on the internet and can be accessed if you want to find it in the privacy of your own room. Anyone including much younger children could find this programme and watch unsupervised and be deeply disturbed by its contents. Is this something which should be on main time TV? Very worried about pressure effect on my daughter who will think there is something wrong with her if she is not into all of this. Interested in your views. Who should I speak to in order to raise my concerns?

[cat54]

Absolutely agree with your concerns. Hate the thought that my teenage daughter might see this and, furthermore, that much younger children might unwittingly access it. I believe that this contravenes Section 1 of the ofcom broadcasting code, the remit of which is to protect people under 18 from unsuitable programmes. Try writing to ofcom - if enough people do so, they will have to investigate this. Good luck.

[inthesticks]

I haven't heard about this but I know what you mean about "going viral". DS1 is 15 and would no doubt think all this hilarious. Forwarned....

[MollysChambers]

Didn't watch it but I must say that my immediate concern on seeing the trailers was that teens would think they SHOULD be doing all this stuff.

Education and information is fine but I think the first thing teens need to learn is to respect themselves and each other and that sex within a loving relationship is the way to go.

So I guess I have a problem with it if it's not presented in that way. Like I say I haven't watched it though.

[nottonight]

I watched this programme and I have to say, there were scenes in it that made me wince, especially the young lad who went for a prince albert. There were some very graphic sex scenes in this and I am sure it should have been aimed at the 17/18 year olds. However the part in which the 16 year old girl putting herself at risk by not using any contraception and drinking heavily with one night stands was educative to all teens of all ages, whilst we don't like to thing our young teens are sexually active I am sure there are quiet a few who do engage on the QT, this was a good reminder to all on having safe sex. DD who is 14 watched this before I managed to see it myself and made no reference to it, whilst most of it was inappropriate, if it made her think about having sex, (I hope not) I truly hope it has instilled the risk of STD's and contraception. Will screen the next episode.

[MissSayuri]

Health professionals are really kicking up a storm about this on Twitter. It is by far and away the most irresponsible programme I've seen on the telly for a while. Also, the statistical evidence was false. 'Most u16s have had 3 sexual partners' - this statement is 100% false. Most u16s have had no partners whatsoever. the programme had no focus on trust or respect and more or less condoned 'no ties sex' as long as you are safe. This is the wrong message to send to what is essentially children. Love, trust and mutual respect didn't even come in to the equation. The strap on bit was an abomination. I have lesbian friends who I discussed this programme with and they were shocked and upset that their whole demographic were portrayed in this way.
The young gay boy, who clearly wasn't ready for sex was told how to use aids for anal penetration, rather than be told that it was perfectly acceptable and normal to feel the way he did.
I live in a very liberal household and rarely feel the need to censor anything, but I've changed the pincode on the television so that my daughter will not be able to access this, in our home at least. I don't feel comfortable with this, but I also don't want my daughter to be subjected to this false and misleading information.
Appalling and distressing television.

[funnyperson]

I didn't see it. I won't watch it. It sounds ghastly. I share your concerns. The media are unscrupulous in their attempts to get high viewing rates. Teens will think they ought to be doing all this stuff. I think the way anal sex is being popularised is worrying. There will be a lot of incontinent young ladies around.

As an established old bag I will mention to DD that she doesn't have to do any of it if she doesn't want to , needs to be careful when drinking, and to send any overly intimidating young men to me and I will sort them out by a) shouting at them and b) ringing their mothers up and letting them know exactly what I think of their sons.

This has in the past been highly effective. Every pretty 17 year old girl needs a mother who is prepared to act scary these days. Only half joking.

Boys go through a phase when some of them think it routine to get girls drunk and have sex. Not good at all.

[MollysChambers]

Christ. I was hoping it was just sensationalist advertising but clearly not.

[GKlimt]

New here.

Beware 4OD, i-player etc.

Thought I'd successfully banned a couple of programmes like Inbetweeners, only to find DS [14] watching them on his laptop. Have now fixed the settings.

[TmiEdward]

I saw this programme last night.
It was car-crash television. I was shocked at how graphic it was, but couldn't tear myself away just to see what they said next.

Very disappointing to see that the benefits of sex as part of a loving relationship not explored as much as the "fun" of casual shags.

The girl who refused contraception was a loon.

[Enchantica]

I don't have children but I don't really get why there is an uproar about this program. It is educating teens on sex and having fun with sex. As long as you are protecting yourself with contraception (which the show did demonstrate!!) then what's the big deal? Also make sure you are of legal age too. Nothing wrong with exploring the sexual world when you are legal and feel ready for it.

Also, Miss Sayuri, you will find that their statistics are very likely correct and yours are wrong (where did you get your figures from?) When I was a teen I could very easily believe that people under the age of 16 had 1-3 sexual partners. I don't agree that it's right to be under 16 and having sex but it happens.

I do agree that children shouldn't watch the program but it is on at 10pm. What kids are sitting watching tv at 10pm? Are the parental controls not on at that time? (I don't have parental controls so not 100% on how they work).

Honestly I don't understand why sex is viewed so negatively. Especially teen sex. I don't agree with under age sex but if you are legal, ready and protected then what is the harm? This is an educational program and shows people in loving relationships and also others who want to explore their sexual side.

IT IS NORMAL. Teens have sex. And they have fun having sex. What is wrong with educating them on different types of sex and subjects related to sex? There were also no graphic sex scenes that I am aware of. And the piercing? Again... I don't get what the problem is.

Myself and other half enjoyed watching the show. Sex is fun and should be treated as such! Less negativity, more education. Perhaps you were all surprised because it educated you on things you didn't know?

I am likely to be the only one on this forum who feels this way. Judging by the replies above. Just watched this weeks show. Fantastic and very educational.

[Enchantica]

Also, funnyperson, anal sex doesn't make you incontinent. If you do it right then it is great. Nothing wrong with educating teens (or anyone for that matter) on anal sex. It's been made into such a taboo subject that everyone is shocked when it is talked about. And really it is just another option in the sexual world.

It surprises me how close minded people are :s Very worrying.

[GypsyMoth]

watched it with dd who is 16....think we need to give teens more credit!!

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

I agree with Enchantica, that it is very important that teens are educated. Sex is natural and teens are experimenting and need positive education not 'OMG that's so awful you can't see that!' attitudes!

At some stage in the teen years they WILL experiment and information is better than ignorance! My children are all older teens (17, 18 19) and I was very pleased that they have been able to talk to me about their own thoughts on sex, and talk about their own first experiences .. they were confident enough to say no until they were ready (and over 16 incidentally) .

I watched the programme with my 17 and 18 yr olds and while I think I cringed more than they did.. Idon't think the message was 'go have sex' it was more about accepting that teens have questions and fears and need to know enough to make decisions about themselves.
My DD (17) couldn't believe the stupidity of the girl who didn't want contraception...and I don't think my son will be going for a prince albert any time soon...

[leonine98]

Don't agree with you at all Medusa. Teenagers have hormones specifically so they become interested and learn about sex and they don't need sex toys or piercings to make themselves feel more attractive or to give more pleasure. This programme was profoundly anti female. I watched it with my 16 year old daughter and was horrified that she thinks she may need to pierce her vagina to get pleasure or alter her fanny to be able to show it to a boy. These are the values of the pornography industry and it is profoundly depressing to see them broadcast to our children. Also, my 11 year old niece was invited to watch this programme last week on a playdate in one of her friends bedrooms. Not a good idea to have these programmes on main stream tv when there are so many more appropriate avenues for sex education.

[cybbo]

I would rather the programme was teaching teens to decide whether they felt comfortable having normal sex emotionally, than how to strap on a dildo

My dd(15) watched it, and now knows ALL the ins and outs of oral sex technique. On one level its good she knows ,but there seems to be little emphasis on chosing if its right time to sleep with someone

[cybbo]

'Nothing wrong with educating teens (or anyone for that matter) on anal sex. It's been made into such a taboo subject that everyone is shocked when it is talked about. And really it is just another option in the sexual world.'

Enchantica do you really feel anal sex is another option that sexually inexperienced teens should be trying? or THINK they should be trying , due to programmes like this( and porn)

Why not fisting then? Or 2 guys entering one girl?

[Enchantica]

Cybbo, how do you think 2 men have sex? As far as I know the legal age for a man to have sex with another man is 16. This programme is for teens and about teens and the questions they have. There is nothing wrong with anal sex. I do not see anything wrong with teens having anal sex either. As long as it is consensual. Why can't they experiment and try new things? What, are they supposed to do missionary until they are in their 20s?!

Nothing wrong with piercings either. They look good and can feel good. But do you really think that all the teens who watch the show are going to go get pierced?! Doubt it. Unless they wanted to already. But again, what's wrong with it?

So many closed minds :s Worrying. Teens are getting answers to questions they have. What if a teen went to ask someone about anal sex and were told that they shouldn't be doing it and that it isn't an option. They shouldn't be told stuff like that, they should be told that it's fine if they are ready and given info about it! Instead of some BS judgement from people who obviously don't understand.

[Enchantica]

Cybbo, how do you think 2 men have sex? As far as I know the legal age for a man to have sex with another man is 16. This programme is for teens and about teens and the questions they have. There is nothing wrong with anal sex. I do not see anything wrong with teens having anal sex either. As long as it is consensual. Why can't they experiment and try new things? What, are they supposed to do missionary until they are in their 20s?!

Nothing wrong with piercings either. They look good and can feel good. But do you really think that all the teens who watch the show are going to go get pierced?! Doubt it. Unless they wanted to already. But again, what's wrong with it?

So many closed minds :s Worrying. Teens are getting answers to questions they have. What if a teen went to ask someone about anal sex and were told that they shouldn't be doing it and that it isn't an option. They shouldn't be told stuff like that, they should be told that it's fine if they are ready and given info about it! Instead of some BS judgement from people who obviously don't understand.