Oh I think you've added an "ed" where I didn't (and didn't intend to). Early sex ed is a positive. Early exposure to sex is not. Sex ed isn't just about sex and there are aspects of it that can (and should) be taught quite young (like I outline above).

IE, you shouldn't be educating your 5 year old on the finer details of what a blowjob is. You should be working with them on the proper names of their genitals and the difference between good touch and bad touch. Both of those are sex ed that should eventually be taught to everyone before they become adults. However, age matters.

As to the negative consequences of exposure to sex acts. I'll point you to a page talking about child sexual abuse. Exposure is sexual abuse (and often a precursor to rape).

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/reports-recommendations/publications/inquiry/interim/nature-effects-child-sexual-abuse/effects-child-sexual-abuse.html

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

What do you mean by exposure?

[–] cogman@lemmy.world 6 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (2 children)

Showing a child porn or having sex while they are around. Those have the most definite negative effects. Stuff that borders that is trickier but, IMO, best avoided.

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

Does walking in accidentally count, or is there a minimum time limit?

I ask because some people act like a child accidentally walking in on their parents once ruins them for life.

[–] cogman@lemmy.world 7 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

I'm less sure on if anyone has studied that (for obvious reasons). It would be more of "We are having sex and don't care if the child can see" sort of thing. The normalizing and exposure of sexual acts with kids is what's known as "grooming" and it's what child sexual predators use to coerce kids.

[–] faythofdragons@slrpnk.net 0 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Do you think drag queen storytime counts as porn that children shouldn't be exposed to?

[–] cogman@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

No.

A trans woman wearing a dress is not porn.

[–] faythofdragons@slrpnk.net 0 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Okay, because "we shouldn't give children access to porn" is the exact argument they use against LGBT folks.

[–] cogman@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

I know, that's not lost on me. And you are right to ask the question.