In the absence of effective sex education at home or in schools, television has become the leading sex educator of American children today. Although media research provides no "smoking gun" evidence that sexy television and movies have contributed to increased rates of adolescent sexual activity at younger ages, many studies document a very real and alarming influence. Content analyses, correlational studies, and field experiments show that 1) teenagers learn ideas about adult sexual behavior from television, 2) American television and movies are extremely suggestive, and 3) responsible sexual behavior is rarely portrayed in American media. Good communication within families and critical viewing skills may protect against harmful media effects. More research is needed to determine how and why various adolescents view the same sexual content differently.
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