A new report from Our Watch and The University of Melbourne’s Youth Research Collective has found young people are forming attitudes about gender, sex and relationships earlier than ever.
Among the key findings, romantic relationships are beginning as early as ages 10–13, while sexual activity commonly starts around age 15. The report also found nearly one in three sexually active young people say they have experienced unwanted sex.
The report, Young people, online worlds and respectful relationships: What the research tells us, highlights the urgent need for earlier, more comprehensive education that addresses the issues young people are facing today, the authors say.
Our Watch CEO Ms Patty Kinnersly said the findings showed young people were experiencing both the positives of relationships and the risks of harm at a critical stage of development. They’re also navigating growing risks in online environments.
“Many young people are having positive and respectful relationships. But too many are also experiencing unwanted sex, harmful stereotypes and violence, often at a young age,” Ms Kinnersly said.
“Gender-based violence doesn’t start in adulthood. It is shaped by the attitudes, norms and behaviours that young people are exposed to early in life. Effective, well-resourced Respectful Relationships Education is a vital step to helping young people deal with that.”
The report paints a nuanced picture of young people’s lives:
- Early exposure: Young people begin forming romantic relationships as early as 10–13 years old, with sexual activity commonly beginning around age 15.
- High rates of harm: Nearly one in three young people who have had sex report experiencing unwanted sex, with some first experiencing it before age 14.
- Gendered impacts: Young women, and transgender and non-binary young people are significantly more likely to experience unwanted sex and violence.
- Online risks are rising: Digital platforms are enabling new forms of abuse, including image-based abuse, coercive sexting and deepfake technologies.
- Misogyny online: The growing influence of the online “manosphere” is shaping harmful attitudes about masculinity, particularly among some boys and young men.
- Pornography influence: Many young people are exposed to pornography early (average age 13.6), which can shape expectations around sex, consent and gender roles.
The research showed attitudes towards gender equality and consent are formed early and reinforced through adolescence, making schools a critical setting for prevention.
Ms Kinnersly says it reinforced the need for a robust, whole-of-school approach to respectful relationships education.
“By the time young people are teenagers, many of the attitudes that underpin violence are already taking shape,” Ms Kinnersly said.
“That’s why we need to start early – and ensure education reflects the reality of young people’s lives, including the influence of online spaces.”
The report calls for:
- Whole-of-school approaches to respectful relationships education that reinforce equality and respect
- Age-appropriate teaching and learning about topics such as gender stereotypes and healthy relationships, beginning in early years and continuing across all stages of a young person’s education
- Stronger focus on consent as an ongoing, communicative practice
- Integration of digital literacy, online safety and ethical behaviour
- Open, inclusive, age-appropriate conversations about sex, relationships, power and pleasure.
- Importantly, the report highlights that young people themselves are calling for more relevant and honest education.
“Young people are telling us they want real conversations about relationships, consent and sex – not just biology or risk,” Ms Kinnersly said.
“They want to understand boundaries, respect, pleasure and power, and they want support to navigate what they’re seeing online.”
The report finds that whole-of-school respectful relationships education can reduce violence, improve wellbeing, and help young people build healthy relationships.
“Primary prevention is about stopping violence before it starts,” Ms Kinnersly said.
“This report shows us exactly where we need to act – and the opportunity we have to support young people to build a future based on respect, equality and safety.”
The University of Melbourne’s Emeritus Professor Helen Cahill, who is a member of the Youth Research Collective, said the report provide a useful insight into the big questions facing young people using the internet.
“More than ever, we need evidence about what young people are experiencing online,” Prof Cahill said.
“This timely report responds to these questions. It provides an accessible overview which shows both cause for concern, and implications for action. It provides a call to action, and a solid grounding to inform a shift from ‘what’s wrong?’ to ‘what works?’.”
