COORDINATOR
Verónica Riquelme Soto is Assistant Professor in the Department of Theory of Education at the University of Valencia. She has been awarded the Extraordinary Master’s Prize. Her research interests focus on the family and the protection of children and adolescents, especially on emerging issues such as the consequences of pornography consumption on children and adolescents, as well as the exposure of minors to gender violence in the home.
She is a member of the GRIFAIN research group (Research Group on Family, Adolescence and Childhood) and the GIPU-EA group (Research Group on University Pedagogy and Teaching and Learning Strategies) in which she actively participates, thus bringing together their main lines of study. She is currently developing, together with different members of the GRIFAIN group, a research project on the impact of pornography consumption on children and adolescents in the Valencian Community.
In a social context marked by rapid technological evolution and increasing accessibility to online content, children and adolescents are exposed to new challenges that require special attention. One of the most concerning phenomena is the early and frequent access to pornography, whose impact on the emotional and affective development of young people is becoming increasingly evident. This symposium aims to analyze, from different perspectives, how access to such content affects the construction of beliefs, expectations, and behaviors related to sexuality, interpersonal relationships, and body image.
Various studies have shown that the consumption of pornography during sensitive stages of development, such as adolescence, is associated with the internalization of unrealistic sexual expectations, as well as a distortion of affective and power dynamics in relationships. Such content tends to reinforce gender stereotypes, normalize the objectification of individuals, and perpetuate patterns of domination and control, which represents a significant obstacle to the formation of relationships based on respect, empathy, and mutual consent.
Although legislation and public policies regarding the protection of minors have advanced in recent decades, it is clear that there is still a long way to go in addressing the effects of pornography consumption on younger generations in a comprehensive manner.
In this regard, this symposium will not only present a critical analysis of this reality, but also open up a horizon of educational proposals that address sexuality from a broader and more human perspective. The challenge is considerable. To ensure a safe and healthy developmental environment for children and adolescents, it is imperative to reflect on how policies, educational institutions, and families can collaborate to mitigate the effects of pornography, while fostering an emotional education that enhances the emotional and relational growth of young people. Only through a coordinated and prevention-based approach can we ensure a future where interpersonal relationships are built on equality, respect, and mutual well-being.