An overview of the role of sexual health organizations, corporations, and government in determining content and access to online sexuality education for adolescents

Abstract

This article examines the Internet as a new and contested site of sexuality education for adolescents. Lauded by some and reviled by others, the Internet appears to be a hospitable terrain for providing sexual health information in innovative ways. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with staff from a range of sexuality education websites for adolescents, as well as a survey and content analysis of online sexuality education sites, I discuss the advantages of online sexuality education and explore some of its limitations in the current Internet landscape. Despite its promise as a groundbreaking source of sexuality education, this article suggests that the Internet is currently restricted in its coverage of sexuality education topics and has yet to take full advantage of its interactive potential in presenting sexual health information to adolescents. Comprehensive online sexuality education organizations face additional challenges from both corporate and governmental gatekeepers in providing sexuality education.