skip to nav skip to content

Online Sex Ed Reaches Teens

  • Print
WAUKESHA - A Waukesha mom is creating a stir online with her "Midwest Teen Sex Show." The podcast is regularly one of the most downloaded on iTunes. Nikol Hasler and her two partners use humor and blunt sarcasm to talk to teens about sexuality. For example, an episode warns teenage girls not to date older guys. Nikol says to the camera, "You might think you're cool for having an older boyfriend. But what you have to remember is he's not cool for dating you. He's a loser, and you can find plenty of losers to date at school." It's advice few could argue with. But other episodes are more controversial. In the one titled abstinence, Nikol, with trademark humor, tells teens that abstinence is the way to avoid STD's and unwanted pregnancies. Later, though they joke around that remaining abstinent is "boring." "Sex takes practice. You can't just read a book to learn how to do it. So how else are you going to learn?" viewers hear before a graphic pops up reading "porn." Hasler says she's not there to take the place of sex ed classes or parents. "I think people have an idea that we're out there trying to provide education. We're just trying to open communication. We're making them laugh, giving them a place to talk about these things," she told TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Lauren Leamanczyk. Abstinence groups say while there are many positive aspects to the "Midwest Teen Sex Show," it also sends a mixed message. Some parents think it may go too far. "What's really frightening is to think that you have no control over the message," said mom Karen Schwenke. Some experts say the information isn't as strong as the entertainment value. Hasler maintains she's not encouraging sexual activity, just acknowledging that some teens are having sex. "We just want them to be safe about it she says." And a message of waiting until your ready is prevalent throughout the online episodes. The message appears to be getting across. With thousands of online viewers and hundreds of e-mails, Hasler is seeing success she never expected.

0 COMMENTS

ADD A COMMENT

Storm Team 4

    advertisement

    advertisement

    TODAY'S TMJ4