October 14, 2025
PETALING JAYA – Easy access to online pornography – particularly violent or degrading content – and a lack of proper sexual education can distort young people’s understanding of sex, consent and relationships.
When adolescents are exposed to porn without proper education, they often absorb harmful ideas about power, control and entitlement, research has shown.
“Over time, this can desensitise them to violence and normalise coercive behaviour,” says children rights group Be My Protector vice-chairman Prof Dr Isdawati Ismail.
However, pornography alone does not “cause” rape, she said.
Sexual violence stems from deeper issues such as peer pressure, lack of empathy, poor education on values, and a failure to teach about consent and respect.
“What we need is digital literacy and critical awareness, so young people can recognise that porn is fantasy, not a model for real relationships,” she said.
Isdawati was commenting on a recent incident in Alor Gajah, Melaka, where four 17-year-olds were arrested for the gang rape of a 15-year-old female student at their school.
Asked how youth can be taught about respect, empathy and equality, she pointed out that respect should not be just taught as a moral slogan but embedded into daily interactions at school, home and in media.
The young should be taught about boundaries, empathy and kindness from primary school.
Boys and girls should be taught by trained facilitators to challenge stereotypes that excuse aggression or normalise dominance while being given safe platforms for open conversations about relationships, peer pressure and consent.
Association of Women Lawyers president Jasmine Wong said pornography does not cause rape in a simple cause-effect manner.
Instead, she said it could be one of the many risk factors.
“Many teens learn about sex from pornography – where women are often portrayed as objects – rather than from formal education. Porn rarely shows realistic consent, rather it tends to ignore consent or even dramatises force.
“These portrayals may desensitise young people to how severe those sexual aggressions are.
“A study by the UK government in 2021 showed a link between easy availability of access to sexually explicit material and harmful sexual attitudes and behaviours.
“We need to re-examine our own attitudes and how the law addresses sexual crimes involving or committed by children,” she said.
Wong said traditional sex education usually focuses only on personal anatomy, which does not prepare youths for the realities of young relationships, ambiguity of consent or potential online exposure and its dangers.
As such, she said young people need to be taught emotional education so they can understand that intimacy involves care, respect and accountability.
Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Nazreen Nizam suggests that there be age-appropriate, evidence-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) that builds knowledge and skills around consent, bodily autonomy, respectful relationships, online safety, rights and responsibilities, and how to seek help.
“With proper implementation and monitoring, CSE improves knowledge, shifts norms, and reduces harmful behaviour,” she said.
Additionally, Nazreen said bystander-intervention skills should be taught so students know how to intervene when they see risky or disrespectful behaviour.
This involves a whole-school approach matters: clear anti-harassment policies, safe and trusted reporting channels, trauma-informed responses, regular training for teachers and counsellors, and active parent engagement.
“Crucially, we must involve boys and young men as allies – equipping them to question sexist jokes, bullying and peer pressure,” she said.