Adolescents, Technology and Reducing Risk for HIV, STDs and Pregnancy

This report is a white paper that is intended for practitioners and others who work with adolescents. It provides an overview about the ways in which digital technology can be used to improve the sexual health of adolescents. The white paper includes: a brief summary of adolescent characteristics, including their demography, development, and sexual behavior; a basic overview of the new digital technologies and media that youth are using such as social networking sites, video sharing, blogs, instant messaging, mobile technology, and virtual worlds; an examination of technology’s potential for use in sexual health promotion, as well as the risks associated with misuse of digital technology, and; examples of innovative adolescent sexual health interventions that have used digital technology to improve their reach and effectiveness.