Social Media Resources
Most are familiar with Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. To some parents, the idea that these popular social media sites might actually provide helpful information to teens about sexual health and sexual empowerment might seem ridiculous. However, in the past few years teens have been taking sexual empowerment into their own hands and sharing real stories and information to educate their peers. The following are some examples of educators and activists.
@sexelducation
Sexologist Emily L. Depasse is on a mission to "redefine the narratives around STIs," and considering that she's already amassed nearly 30,000 followers, it seems like she's been pretty successful in using her platform to spread an important message.
Her casual sex series offer templates for having tough conversations — like how to bring up your STI screening, support a partner who discloses an STI, or reveal your herpes status to your sexual partners — all of which are aimed at de-stigmatizing sexually-transmitted infections. Whether you want to learn more about protecting yourself from STIs, or you have one and could use some positive affirmations, @sexELDucation is definitely worth a follow.
Mission
@drlauramcguire
Dr. Laura McGuire is not only a sexuality educator, trauma-informed specialist, and inclusion consultant, but she's also the founder of the National Center for Equity & Agency, a #MeToo-era consulting firm that specializes in sexual misconduct prevention.
Basically, Dr. McGuire is dedicated to creating a culture of consent by schooling you on what it means and how to provide it. Moreover, they shed a spotlight on what it means to heal from sexual trauma. The best part? They're not afraid to tackle the tough subjects, like victim-blaming and healing from trauma — or tackle complicated questions, like, "How do I give consent to a long-term partner I've already been intimate with many times before?"
@evyan.whitney
You might have heard about birthing doulas, but what's a sexuality doula? Well, according to Ev'Yan Whitney, who coined the term, it's someone who "educates, facilitates, supports, and holds space for women and femme-identifying folks who are ready to step out of shame, confusion, and fear within their sexuality and into erotic empowerment—whatever that looks like for them."
In addition to providing how-to posts (like asking for what you want sexually), Whitney also offers glimpses into her own personal journey of healing. They also created the #sensualselfiechallenge, a five-day radical self-love program that's aimed at encouraging you to celebrate your sexuality and your body in bold ways (no nudes required).
@allbodieshealth
Looking for some sexual health realness? Then make sure Allbodies is on your feed — it's an online platform for reproductive and sexual health, and it's brimming with super useful info, all of which has been reviewed by experts.
Here, you'll find announcements about their latest digital health classes (which range from communication pleasure with partners to fertility preservation and dating after trauma. But you'll also get answers to questions you never dared to ask, like why you may be experiencing excessive vaginal sweating, or what the risks of oral sex are when one partner has herpes.
@sexedsteph
Given that @sexedsteph is a certified sex educator, reproductive justice advocate, and sex researcher, you can definitely expect a wide range of facts on her account — from the wonders of lube and emergency contraception to how antibiotics may affect your birth control.
@KillerAndASweetThang
If you don't already follow @killerandasweetthang, run — don't walk — to add this digital sex/mental health resource to your feed. Eileen Kelly — the gal behind this uber-popular IG — has been called Gen Z's Dr. Ruth, and that just about says it all.
Between the hilarious sex-themed memes, stunning depictions of sensuality, and educational pointers (hello, Anal 101), this is one account that's bound to boost your intimacy IQ while also keeping you endlessly entertained.
@shanboody
The fact that @shanboody has collected 367K followers at this point speaks to just how valuable, relatable, and entertaining her content is.
Shan Boodrram is a certified intimacy educator, which means she teaches people to be more competent and confident in the bedroom for a living. And from #couplesquarantine intimacy tips to facts about erectile dysfunction and the anatomy of the vulva, truly no topic is off-limits for her.
@drshemeka
Since Dr. Shemeka Thorpe is a sexuality educator & researcher whose account fuses sex ed with self-care. In other words, she doesn't just want you to know more about sex — she also wants you to have more satisfying experiences. So, you may quickly notice that all of her posts, no matter what the subject of the content, center around eliminating shame from your sex life.
PS: Dr. Thorpe happens to be the co-founder of @theminoritysexreport, a space for people of color to have conversations around sexuality, which is def also worth a follow.
@givingthetalk
This Instagram account bills itself as "sex ed for this century" and that description honestly couldn't be more accurate. Not only is all the content on @givingthetalk medically accurate, sensitive, and incredibly insightful, but it's also inclusive of all genders, races, and identities. Gotta love the "Real Talk" posts, which cover such conundrums as what to ask yourself before establishing consent with a partner, ways to give and ask for consent, and how to revoke consent.
@ericasmith.sex.ed
Sex educator Erica Smith is on a quest to break down purity culture and encourage a more sex-positive societal mindset. Better yet, she continually shares statistics and other straight-up facts to support that goal. If you find yourself frustrated with how sex is portrayed in the media or advertising, or you're just trying to foster a healthier sexual relationship with yourself, this account is surely worth a follow.
@sexedwithsarah
Sarah Cyr-Mutty, M.Ed, is a freelance sex educator, reproductive justice activist, and a lot of her content on @sexedwithsarah revolves around the nitty-gritty of consent, as well as gender identity, and sexual orientation. In addition to empowering quotes (like, "no is a complete sentence!") and advice (like ways to end a sexual experience without having to fake an orgasm), her account is loaded with practical reminders — like the little gem above.