Digital Birds & Bees: Talking Tech, Teens, & Sex
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Over the past two decades, technological advancements have resulted in greater access to digital content. While such advancements have proven to be an invaluable societal resource, they are not without risk. As frequently examined in the media, the digital landscape can be difficult for adolescents to navigate. This is especially true with respect to teenagers, dating, sexual relationships, and sexual digital content. Risky issues include unsolicited sexual messages, revenge porn, “incels” (individuals who consider themselves to be “involuntarily celibate”), sexploitation, online domestic violence, and doxing (the distribution of personal information against that person’s will). Mental health practitioners and other professionals frequently find themselves at a loss when it comes to finding the right assessment tools, treatment approaches, and prevention strategies in these areas.
This training provides a helpful framework for mental health practitioners and other professionals seeking to understand the intersection of technology, sexuality, and youth to professionals who work with adolescents. It explores the potential risks and benefits that the Internet offers regarding sexual education. It provides key resources that can help frame the issue for adults. Additionally, a brief review of adolescent development helps explain why adolescents are particularly vulnerable to risky online behavior.
Participants will be able to identify key terms and online trends such as cyber-dating violence, sexploitation, doxing, revenge porn, and catfishing. The training reviews emerging ideas for intervention designed to address these issues and help teenagers grow into responsible digital citizens. Finally, attendees are introduced to information about popular social media personalities, the arrival of “gaming” as a distinct industry, and a brief explanation about the Darknet.
Topics to be discussed include:
- A framework for understanding the intersection of technology, sexuality, and youth
- Key resources that can help adults understand the issues that adolescents face at the intersection of technology, sexuality, and maturational processes
- Adolescent development and maturational processes – including those that make adolescents vulnerable to online exploitation – that professionals should consider when working with adolescents
- Identification of key terms and trends (cyber-dating violence, sexploitation, doxing, revenge porn, and catfishing) that can serve as intervention opportunities in order to prevent abuse and victimization
- Emerging interventions designed to address these issues and help teenagers grow into responsible “digital citizens”
1) Describe risky sexual digital content that adolescents are routinely exposed to
2) Explain how such content can affect adolescents’ sexual understanding
3) Apply a collaborative approach in working with adolescents to explore technology, teenagers, and sex with adolescent clients
4) Apply a framework for a triage response to problematic use of technology
5) Identify key resources that can help in assessing and treating youth who have experienced or caused harm via their online behavior
Audience
This training is for professionals working with people who have experienced complex trauma as well as people who have perpetrated abuse. Professionals who will benefit from this training include social workers, psychologists, clinical counselors, and interested paraprofessionals.
Content Level
Disclosure
Continuing Education Approval
American Psychological Association (APA)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Safer Society Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Who's Presenting
Alex Rodrigues, PsyD
Dr. Rodrigues is a forensic psychologist and operates a private consultation practice where he completes a variety of forensic evaluations, including sex offense-related evaluations, competency to stand trial, insanity, and juvenile transfer assessments. Dr. Rodrigues has been qualified as an expert and testified in various jurisdictions. The Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (CSOMB) has recognized Dr. Rodrigues as an approved provider/evaluator for both juvenile and adult populations. Additionally, he is a volunteer participant for CSOMB’s best practice committee, reviewing emerging practices for adoption and implementation. He previously served as a psychologist on a pre-trial unit at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. as well as a member of the hospital’s forensic consultation service, completing both competency to stand trial and risk assessments. Recently, Dr. Rodrigues opened a satellite office in Colorado to complement his practice in the D.C. metropolitan area. Aside from court-related evaluations, Dr. Rodrigues provides consultation to law enforcement, government agencies, and corporations on mental health/violence related issues in the workspace.