Youth and Porn Resource Kit

2. Engaging & Equiping

2.2 Problematic Porn Usage

The ‘Reflect, Reframe, Refer’ Tool
This ‘tool offers a quick response framework for common porn questions that will keep the conversation open and curious and provide ways to build critical thinking.
It helps avoid binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers during porn conversations, which can shut down the conversation and prevent critical thinking.

Reflect

Validate the importance of any porn-related question and reflect on question drivers (i.e., why are they asking this?)

Why?
 Porn-related taboo, stigma, fear of being judged, and shame are barriers to open conversations. Validating young people’s questions and reflecting on why they may be asking the question can help to open conversations.

Reframe

Reframe any questions requiring a ‘yes/no’ response, to wider ‘how/what’ questions to avoid binary responses and develop critical thinking.

Why?
 Young people want adults to change the way they talk about porn. Negative adult messages often don’t match young people’s own porn experiences and can increase shame and stigma. Binary responses (e.g., porn is bad or wrong) can shut down conversations, but open and curious questions can help build critical thinking.

Refer

Refer questions and/or refer for support if the young person is experiencing porn-related harm.

Why?
Health professionals may not have all the answers to porn-related questions. Delaying an answer until you have time to gather relevant information, or referring the young person to other supports services, can sometimes be the most helpful response.

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