“Social networks often convey stereotypes”, Chloé Hinault, health prevention facilitator

You provide activities for high school students from the Ile-de-France region. How do you perceive their relationship to sexuality?

What strikes me is that today we are dealing with a generation open to sexuality education, but which at the same time seems to rather reject sex…

What role do social networks play in their discovery of sexuality?

Today's high school students spend a lot of time on the networks. Digitally, they know about it long before we do. They scroll (scroll very quickly with your finger, Editor’s note) constantly on their screens and look for their representations there. However, social networks are often quick to convey gender stereotypes. I am thinking, for example, of Adrien Laurent, former reality TV candidate and pornographic actor, very present on TikTok. When you mention it in front of young boys, they get glitter in their eyes! However, he is a very problematic personality, who presents women as objects, sells training to explain how to please them and is the subject of a complaint for rape. Many young people follow accounts of seduction coaches who also convey a lot of injunctions. And many find themselves stuck in very conservative patterns. Which can hinder or make more complex the sexual development of all.

Do certain topics come up more than others in your discussions?

For about five years, I have noticed a rise in the power of religion. The subject constantly comes up on the table, particularly with regard to Islam: “in religion, it’s like that”, “in my religion, we don’t do that”. The theme of virginity is very present. It is really young people who choose to address the issue. I could easily offer them two-hour events on “Sexuality and Religion”. This focus can explain the lack of desire among young people in this age group to develop sexuality.