Parents & Community

Navigating a sexed-up world: equipping parents 

How we can help our children resist harmful messages from media and pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships.

The world we live, work and engage in is growing more sexualised and pornified. Children are exposed to porn at younger ages, relationships are being devasted by porn use – including Christian couples.

Porn has invaded our sacred spaces. How can we resist the toxic influences of porn culture within faith communities – and in the world? How can we porn-proof our children? How can we help our teens live above the sludge of a sick society and aspire to relationships based on respect, mutuality and authentic connection?

Resources will be provided to assist in ministry and pastoral care in this space.

Topics

  • Understanding harmful cultural forces sharing our young people
  • Sexualised media/porn, AI/chatbots, games, sextortion, toxic influencers (‘Beauty’, Manosphere),
  • Mental health, body image, sexual pressures: Research and young people’s narratives
  • Addictive behaviours/building health habits
  • Social media/screen time
  • Helping children resist harmful culture messages
  • Aspiring to relationships built on respect, empathy and mutuality
  • Resources to equip parents

About Speaker

Melinda Tankard Reist

Melinda is an author, speaker, media commentator, and advocate for young people. She is best known for her work addressing sexualisation, objectification, harms of pornography, sexual exploitation, trafficking and violence against women.

Young people are building emotional bonds with chatbots – some supportive, others deeply unsafe.