‘Really damaged’: Irish teenagers aren’t being informed enough about consent

"They have a right to know more."

Teenagers and young people are being left behind when it comes to consent and information about healthy sexual relationships. Third level students may be the most likely targets when it comes to education about consent, but what about those in second level - arguably, the groups who need it most? This week, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) will meet with 20 TikTokkers to brainstorm the best ways to discuss consent with teenagers and young adults in Ireland. The campaign, #100Consent, is focused on 16 to 24 year olds; a demographic that is most likely to be influenced by TikTok, the early end of which is oftentimes ignored when it comes to discussions of consent. “We live in a country where we can’t be sure that regular education will cover these issues," says Noeline Blackwell, CEO of the DRCC. "Sometimes they are, but not regularly. 16 to 24 year olds are very often exploring their own sexualities and what they understand sexual relations to be, and they’re hoping to do that in the healthiest way possible. "But we’ve seen people at this time in their lives who are really damaged - because someone hasn’t understood, or hasn’t had the language to understand, what went wrong." Blackwell says that even though groups like the DRCC, as well as parents and teachers, are more than aware of the need for an earlier focus on consent and sexual education, it still hasn't been prioritised. The DRCC has run a programme detailing consent and healthy relationships in second levels schools for the past decade - so while the understanding is there, it is still not widespread. "The need is there," says Blackwell. "They have a right to know more about consent and sexual health that what we are currently offering them. "The truth is that this age group are aware of sexual activity - some more than others -and the reality is that anyone with a smart phone can be exposed to very unhelpful, fake, and wrong information. "Youngsters don’t have the language and they’re looking for it, but in return they’re getting porn thrown at them from every direction. Parents are worried, teachers are worried, but we need everyone to be more worried."

Blackwell is hoping that this week's workshop will enable the DRCC to spread their message of healthy sexual relationships in a way that is both informative and engaging.

“It will hopefully stop people from doing harm inadvertently," she says. "Some people set out to harm, but others do it without meaning to.

"A lot of young people don’t have the tools to understand and we’d love to give it to them. TikTokkers are important parts of young people’s lives. We want to go on a journey and see where it takes us."

You can find out more about the #100Consent campaign here.