Media may be linked to growing number of sexually active teens

Sexually explicit content has become a common trend in today's movies, television shows, music and websites, which could be greatly contributing to risky behavior among American teenagers. Those who have unprotected sex are increasing their likelihood of an unexpected pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

In an effort to combat the amount of risqué material that is available to the young population, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released a a policy statement, MedicalNewToday.com reports. In it, the authors suggest that these media messages are linked to the growing number of sexually active teenagers and the rise of STD cases.

They also stress that parents should take the upper hand when it comes to teaching their teens about safe sex, according to the news source. This includes monitoring their children's access to suggestive content and explaining these messages from a safety perspective.

The authors wrote that "just as inappropriate media messages can be detrimental to teens, socially responsible programming can be a powerful vehicle for sexual health education."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 19 million new STD infections are diagnosed in the U.S. every year, and almost half of them are among people aged 15 to 24.