The New Landscape of Sextortion and Teen Online Safety with Jo Robertson (#51)

In this powerful episode, sex educator, trauma therapist, and porn researcher Jo Robertson breaks down the alarming rise in online grooming, sextortion, and exposure to sexual content among today's youth. With clear data, real-world examples, and insight from years of clinical and educational work, Jo explains how digital spaces are shaping young people's relationships, sexual development, and vulnerability to harm. This conversation is essential listening for teens, parents, and anyone invested in online safety. Key Points  Why exposure to sexual content is now almost universal among young people The disturbing number of teens who encounter illegal sexual content daily How predators groom young people and why grooming and sextortion are not the same The sharp rise in self-generated child sexual abuse material among kids as young as 7 How porn normalizes behaviors that show up in peer-to-peer interactions Why sexual "scripts" online are shaping consent, pleasure, and expectations The impact of animated porn and incest-themed content on developing sexual beliefs Why boys are more frequently sextorted, while girls are more often groomed The role of AI, deepfakes, gaming platforms, and social apps in facilitating harm The decline in teen sexual activity—and why sex has become riskier The four C's of healthy sexual encounters: communication, care, comfort, contraception/safety How shows like Normal People, Forever, and Dawson's Creek model healthy communication What young adults ask sex therapists, from "Is this normal?" to navigating coercive dynamics Guest Links & Resources Mentioned Jo Robertson's TEDx talk  Jo Robertson website Internet Watch Foundation research Stop It Now (prevention and early-intervention organization) Media referenced: Normal People, Forever, Dawson's Creek, Sex Education If this episode brought clarity, education, or guidance, please follow and share the show. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue these crucial conversations.