By Adrienne Barnes 
Teen Vogue recently released a how-to guide on anal sex for children. That sentence, right there, should stop us all in our tracks. A child, by law, is anyone under the age of 17. According to My Media Musings, the average age of a Teen Vogue reader is actually 11-15 years old. Millions of 11-15 year-old girls and boys now have a detailed and inaccurate step by step guide on Anal Sex: What You Need to Know: How to do it the RIGHT way. Every single human being should be disgusted and ready to protect this next generation of children. The Federal government actually has laws in place ready to protect them. Under the Child Exploitation Laws, it is illegal to:
18 U.S.C. § 1466-Engaging in the business of selling or transferring obscene matter
18 U.S.C. § 1470- Transfer of obscene material to minors
18 U.S.C. § 2252B- Misleading domain names on the Internet
18 U.S.C. § 2252C- Misleading words or digital images on the Internet
Maybe Teen Vogue feels that they are above the law, or maybe they believe they are covered by their 1st amendment right, but I believe the safety of our children should take precedence and be our first concern.
This “guide” is misleading and not about education. Sex education is important. Studies show that “youth who receive comprehensive sex education are NOT more likely to become sexually active, increase sexual activity, or experience negative sexual health outcomes.” The key term in that study is comprehensive. In order for the sexual information to be considered education, it must be comprehensive. The information must cover the benefits, side effects, and consequences of the sex act and interaction. Teen Vogue’s guide does none of that. It creates an illusion that anal sex is fun, for everyone, and basically no big deal stating,
Anal sex, though often stigmatized, is a perfectly natural way to engage in sexual activity. People have been having anal sex since the dawn of humanity. Seriously, it’s been documented back to the ancient Greeks and then some. So if you’re a little worried about trying it or are having trouble understanding the appeal, just know that it isn’t weird or gross.
So what is a parent to do? How are we are to fight against this misinformation for our children? It is our responsibility as parents to be the first line of defense for our children, but often is feels like a losing battle against media outlets like Teen Vogue.
But take heart Momma, you do have a defense against this evil, and that defense is you. You are the most important factor in your child’s understanding of a healthy sexual relationship. The way you communicate with your child about sex, intimacy, and relationships will set the foundation for their own relationships and sex life. Advocatesforyouth.org reports that, “positive communication between parents and children greatly helps young people to establish individual values and to make healthy decisions.”
Parents, your voice and values are still the most important to your children. Let Teen Vogue’s article be a wake-up call to us all. If we allow the media or society to educate our children, this is the education they will receive. It is up to us to guide our children. We may have to inform them at an earlier age than we would have previously thought, but at least the information will be comprehensive, safe, factual, and given with all the love in this world.
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