Published on November 22nd, 2019 | by Sunit Nandi

Sex ed + technology

Our knowledge and habits are constantly changing in parallel to the opportunities provided by the development of technology. Thanks to this progress we get easier and easier access to all the information we need. Unfortunately, it’s also easier for all Internet users to publish and modify various kinds of information.

The availability of information gives us the delusion of having an actual knowledge. It’s an especially dangerous phenomenon among adolescents and their sexual awareness. Discovering yourself is an extremely significant part of puberty. It’s so important and complicated that schools should take the whole responsibility for education in this area, as well.

Young people tell each other their sex experiences, organise sex toy shop escapades, discover different methods of contraception and ways of pleasuring themselves… They are often on their own on this sex world journey. It doesn’t have to be this way!

Sex Ed classes are usually associated with nervous laughs, awkward jokes, bananas and condoms, and awful sex ed dolls. It’s because of our own laziness, lack of imagination and common sense. Technology offers us wonderful and mature solutions for useful and informative Sex Education. This time we took a closer look at mobile apps that will help you get to your students! Here’s what we found:

My Sex Doctor

In this app you can find a glossary of the most important, sex and puberty related terms. You can also get to know the 100 Things You Must Know category in search for hard facts that should be common knowledge by now. What really caught our attention when browsing the appeals what is hiding under the Topics tab. An immense choice of subjects like Sexual Organs, Flirting, Before Sex, or just as important Unhealthy Relationships. Clicking each topic uncovers sets of related questions with elaborate answers. My Sex Doctor is approved by the British National Health Service.

Ask Without Shame

The story behind the app is a huge topic for a separate hour of Sex Ed class. The founder of Ask Without Shame grew up in Uganda — a country where everything related to sex is an absolute taboo. Having both parents died of AIDS and being HIV-positive herself didn’t make her life in Uganda any easier. Her own story inspired her to create the application that would make all needed sex related knowledge and help more accessible, without the sense of humiliation and exclusion. With the app you can call or text actual medical experts at any time of the day, with every possible question, problem or emergency situation you have.

Sophie Bot

An interactive sex knowledge base in the form of a chat box. The real life background of Sophie Bot is remarkably similar to Ask Without Shame. The main impulse in this case was an extreme sex taboo in Kenya. The goal was to create an app with 100% anonymous access to answers for as many as possible sensitive queries.

JuiceBox

JuiceBox founder created a safe, judgement free space for young people not only to ask questions to sex health experts, but also to share their own stories and experiences, and to share advice with fellow users in need. Roots of this app are the founder’s experiences, as well. Only this time we have to do with sexuality shaming in the conservative state of Tennessee.

SexPositive

It’s an app of University of Oregon Health Center focused particularly on the beginnings of one’s sex life. SexPositive will help your students understand what’s going on with theirs bodies before and during intercourse, understand each other’s anatomy, explain different kinds of sex, and help them get prepared to the first talk they should have before having sex for the first time. It’ll also make them think carefully if they actually are ready to take such a huge mature step. To make the app more approachable and reliable the creators attached videos with university students sharing their thoughts and experiences.

Clue

A female targeted application created to help women understand and control their menstruation cycle better. The app shows in an accessible way how many different factors of your daily life are influenced just by the cycle. It helps to get more self-aware and get used to your own body’s rules.

Journal

Understanding the need and benefits of being able to communicate with others is the first step to a peaceful social life, but also to your sexual well-being. The step after should be the ability to communicate with your very self and your own body. This level of self-awareness is unfortunately often missed in school education. Presenting such an app like Journal shows students how easy and important it is to begin to take care of your mental health just by writing down what’s been eating you. The app is fully encrypted to ensure its users absolute privacy.

Inviting technology to your Sex Education classes should be an obligatory point of your teaching plan. Sex Ed apps are and anonymous and friendly way to get familiar with sex health and well-being queries. It’s important to mark, though, that apps can be a help tool only. They can’t replace an actual face-to-face conversations or doctor appointments. Keep in mind that Sex Education should not be just about contraception methods and sexual intimacy. As a teacher, you should first understand how deep, complex and closely related the mental, physical and sex aspects of life are. If you’re not sure of your competences, don’t feel ashamed and invite an expert guest.

Do you know more useful Sex Ed apps? Or want to share your teaching experiences with us? As usual, we’re looking forward to your feedback!

Tags: sex, technology

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.