Sex With Emily How to Talk to Teens About Sex
Nov 25, 2025
Dr. Aliza Pressman, a developmental psychologist and founder of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, shares her expertise on navigating conversations about sex with teens. She highlights how technology isolates youth and impacts their relationships and sexual experiences. Aliza introduces the Five R's framework to help parents talk about difficult topics like porn and identity. The discussion emphasizes the importance of pleasure-inclusive sex education and maintaining open, nonjudgmental communication to foster healthy sexual development in young people.
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Phones And Porn Reduce Teen Connection
- Teens are having less sex partly because devices reduce real-world connection and make in-person bonding rare.
- Porn and unrealistic online images also distort expectations and increase self-consciousness among adolescents.
Set Phone Rules To Force Real Connection
- Set clear device rules and connect with your kids so they trust changes and accept guardrails.
- Make space for boredom and face-to-face time to encourage real social and emotional skills.
Make Porn Conversations Political
- Framing porn as a social-justice issue resonates with teens more than moralizing it's bad for them.
- Teens respond to messages about exploitation, racism, and misogyny behind pornography.
