Masters Thesis

Sex ed-online—the developer's endeavor to create safe space

Sexuality education websites offer young people a valuable place to learn about sexuality yet funding constraints make this a difficult endeavor. Drawing on interviews with educators and developers from websites providing positive sexuality education, I found that online sexuality educators appreciate the anonymous nature of the Internet and believe their sites offer a safe space for young people to find community. However, inadequate funding often limits these sites. Even when funding is secured, sites remain accountable to funders' objectives that restrict their capacity. My research suggests that integrating the sexuality education available online and that in the classroom could revolutionize its quality and scope. Furthermore, strengthening research partnerships to evaluate sites' effectiveness could provide evidence to propel sexuality education toward more comprehensiveness in both online and offline spheres. I close by identifying opportunities to better support websites that encourage young people's sexual agency, health, and development.

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