Talking to your teen about sex is rarely simple. Today, it’s even more complicated.
“We’re seeing a generation of teenagers who are empowered online… but making very different choices than we saw a generation ago,” Dr. Sarah Flicker, Professor & Adolescent Health Researcher at York University. She made the comment during an interview with Lianne Castelino during an interview for Where Parents Talk.
From viral TikToks to easily accessible online pornography, teens can experience a flood of sexual content, often long before they are emotionally or intellectually ready.
At the same time, the stakes couldn’t be higher: rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, declining condom use, and widespread misinformation are part of a troubling new reality for adolescent sexual health.
“Teens are accessing pornography much earlier, more often, and more easily than ever before,” says Dr. Flicker.
An Overexposed, Underprepared Generation
Today’s youth are forming their early understanding of sex from sources like TikTok, Instagram reels, Reddit threads, and adult websites—many of which offer misleading or even harmful portrayals of sexuality.
“There’s a lot of sensationalized misinformation out there. Some influencers or peer networks may not have the best facts, yet teens are absorbing it as truth,” she says.
Flicker stresses the importance of media literacy, both for youth and parents.
“We need to help young people question what they’re seeing and where it comes from. Not all sources are credible just because they’re popular,” she says.
Condom Use Decline: A Stark Warning
One of the most alarming trends Flicker highlights is the sharp drop in condom use among Canadian teens.
“We saw a 10% decline between 2020 and 2024,” she says, citing national survey data. “That’s a big drop—and it’s deeply concerning.”
Condoms remain the most accessible and effective protection against sexually transmitted infections, yet fewer teens are using them regularly.
So what’s behind this shift?
A major factor, says Flicker, is the educational gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With many students learning remotely during key developmental years, comprehensive sex ed often fell by the wayside.
“Teachers were uncomfortable having those conversations online. Students didn’t want to talk about sex at home with their parents potentially listening in. That silence has consequences.”
Additionally, evolving understandings of HIV risk—particularly among young men who have sex with men—have contributed to changing behaviour. With medications like PrEP and better treatment, the virus has become manageable for many.
“That’s a huge medical advancement, but it has also led some to believe condoms are less necessary,” Flicker explains.
How Parents Can Help
For parents overwhelmed by these realities, Flicker offers practical guidance. “You’re not going to stop them from accessing information. But you can guide them to the right information—and let them know you’re available without judgment.”
She suggests pointing teens toward trusted sources, such as:
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SexFluent, a youth-friendly resource by the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research
Flicker says she has used this approach with her own children. “I’ve said to them: ‘Come to me with questions. And if you don’t want to talk to me, that’s okay—check out these resources I trust.’”
Parents don’t need to know everything, she emphasizes. But they do need to be present, informed, and open. “Your role isn’t to control—it’s to guide. Be the steady voice they know they can turn to when everything else feels uncertain.”
Today’s teens are navigating sex, identity, and relationships in a landscape radically different from that of their parents. They’re growing up in an era of limitless content, fewer protective barriers, and increasing pressure to define themselves quickly.
But with empathy, honest dialogue, and access to accurate information, Flicker says parents can help their teens move from confusion to confidence. “You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to show up—and keep showing up.”
Related links
yorku.ca/lamarsh/sarah-flicker
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