
The mainstream mass media (television, magazines, music, movies, and the internet) provide increasingly frequent portrayals of sexuality. We still know relatively little about how this content is used and how it affects sexual beliefs and behavior. The few available studies suggest that the media do have an impact because the media keep sexual behavior on public and personal agendas, media portrayals, reinforce a relatively consistent set of sexual and relationship norms, and the media rarely depict sexually responsible models.
The mass media are increasingly accessible way for people to learn about and see sexual behavior. The media may be especially important for young people as they are developing their own sexual beliefs and patterns of behavior and as parents and schools remain reluctant to discuss this topic.