(PNM-18) Adolescents and online information seeking on sexuality: a scoping review

Abstract Introduction/Objective The internet has become one of the main sources of sexuality-related information for adolescents, alongside family, school, religious, and healthcare influences. This study aimed to map, through a scoping review, adolescent behavior in seeking online information about sexuality, considering motivations, sources, reliability criteria, and overall impact. Materials and Methods The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and was registered in the OSF. Searches were conducted in July 2024 across the databases BASE, EBSCO, EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science, with no restrictions on date or language. Empirical studies involving adolescents (aged 10–19) that addressed experiences and motivations in seeking online sexual information were included. Two independent reviewers analyzed eight studies after screening. Results Factors influencing this behavior included privacy, desire for anonymity, supplementation of offline sources, and sexual curiosity. There was limited verification of information reliability and a strong presence of emotional responses such as confusion, anxiety, and frustration. Information-seeking patterns varied according to gender, educational level, migrant background, and sexual orientation. Conclusions Health and media literacy should be integrated into sexuality education strategies. Future studies should employ representative samples and focus on the relationships between individual and contextual variables and the use of online sexual information. Financing No conflict.