Interactions between the internet and adolescents' sexual development

Zdanowicz, Nicolas [UCL] Crochelet, Aurélie [UCL] Jacques , Denis [UCL] Reynaert, Christine [UCL]

Aim: to bring to light potential interactions between the use of the Internet, in particular for sexual purposes, and sexual issues during adolescence, whether these be general (psychosomatic, personality, communicational) or specific (sexual orientation, sexual identity, couple).Method: confronting our clinical experience with information found in MEDLINE, PSYCARTICLE, PSYCINFO literature.Results: if numerous studies have been conducted on the Internet’s impact on certain aspects of young people’s sexuality (misogyny, traumatism, transsexualities,…) none have systemised their approach in function of the psychosexual developmental issues.By rereading and reclassifying these studies concerning their area of impact, if we fear possible consequences on various issues, nothing can allow us today to establish that these are inevitably negative.The most obvious example is when we compare young people’s sexuality between those that are looking for sexual partners via the Internet and those that do not, the only differences found are virtual.On the other hand, with regards to young people with an already pre-existing developmental problem, the Internet seems to act as a catalyst aggravating the specific problem.In conclusion: at this moment in time, and considering the small number of studies that have actually been conducted with extremely varying methodologies, nothing allows for the generalisation that the Internet has a negative impact on adolescents’ and young adults’ sexuality.