Reach Out to Kids Where They Are — On Their Phones

To help our youth make better sexual health choices, experts and educators must reach out to them where they are. These days, you’ll find most young people on their phones.

Information delivered over the phone can, and does, influence youth sexual health behavior. Two years ago, our organization and the California Family Health Council surveyed teens who were using a sexual health text messaging service. Of those who responded, 90 percent said the service influenced them to make a positive sexual health change — including getting tested for S.T.D.s, using a condom and seeking out health services.

YTH was one of the first organizations to use mobile phones to reach teenagers with accurate sexual health information. In 2006, in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, we developed SexINFO, the first sex ed text messaging service in the U.S. Since then, we’ve launched dozens of text messaging services, mobile websites and smartphone apps to provide critical sexual and reproductive health information to youth.

There’s no one right way to teach sex ed. Conversations with doctors, teachers, parents and peers play a critical role. Interactive technology — like smartphone apps, websites, discussion forums and games — adds another layer of information access. Sharing information through technology doesn’t impose sex education on anyone; it simply makes sure that accurate information is available to those who seek it out.

In places where sex ed is low-quality, limited or prohibited, apps and other technology can help teens and young adults get the sexual health information they need and deserve.

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