A influência das mídias sociais na prática sexual

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The popularization of social media has changed the way information about sexuality circulates, influencing perceptions, behaviors, and practices related to prevention and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Platforms such as TikTok have become frequent sources of consultation, especially among adolescents and young people, which may favor both the dissemination of accurate information and distorted content.OBJECTIVE: To identify content disseminated on social media related to safe sexual practices and STIs.METHODOLOGY: This is a qualitative study conducted through the analysis of videos and comments published on TikTok. The terms “condom” and “STI” were used to select content produced in Portuguese, published in the last five years, and with more than 500,000 views. Nine videos were included in the analysis, considering year of publication, creator’s sex, number of views, main theme, and relevant information presented.RESULTS: The videos were published between 2022 and 2025, with STIs being the most recurrent theme (n = 5; 56%), and the number of views ranging from 1.9 to 11.6 million. Regarding the creators’ sex, there was a predominance of females (n = 6; 67%). Of the total videos, four (44%) were produced by health professionals, while five (56%) were created by individuals who had experienced being infected with an STI and use their personal accounts as a form of warning and discussion, especially in the female context. Data analysis showed that condoms are frequently addressed only as a contraceptive method, with little emphasis on their importance in STI prevention.CONCLUSION: The analyzed content predominantly associates condom use with contraception, with limited reference to STI prevention. Given the wide reach of social media, greater investment in health education–focused content is recommended, particularly emphasizing condom use as a method for STI prevention.