Teach Us: How Porn And Algorithms Influence Us

Porn isn’t a problem—but when it’s your main source of sex ed, it can warp your view of real-life intimacy.

In this episode, host Anthony Stefanos is joined by Daniel Principe, Blake Pavey, Gina Martin and James Rowbottom to unpack how porn, social media, and algorithms influence our understanding of sex, relationships, and power.

They dive into porn literacy—why it matters, what ethical porn could look like, and how porn often misses the mark on things like consent, pleasure, and diversity. They explore how people unconsciously imitate what they’ve seen on screen, and how that can blur the line between fantasy and reality.

The group also breaks down tech-facilitated abuse—image-based abuse, sextortion, and tracking—and why victim-blaming attitudes (like “you shouldn’t have sent that”) are deeply unhelpful. They cover legal protections and where to go for help if someone shares or threatens to share private images.

Finally, they zoom out to talk about the role of algorithms in reinforcing harmful gender roles and radicalising young people. What starts as self-improvement content can spiral into misogynist manosphere rhetoric, and the line between lifestyle advice and extremism isn’t always obvious.

This ep is all about building digital literacy and awareness—because online safety isn’t just about passwords and privacy settings, it’s about recognising power, boundaries, and influence in all its forms.

FEATURING:

Anthony Stefanos:

Host of the Teach Us Consent podcast series, Anthony is a youth communicator and presenter known for guiding bold, honest conversations with empathy and clarity.

Daniel Principe:

A youth advocate and educator, Daniel travels the country helping young people critically examine porn culture, gender expectations, and the digital world they’re growing up in.

Blake Pavey:

Comedian. Probably the best terminally ill comedian under 25 from a regional town you’ll see this week.Gina Martin: A multi-award-winning gender equality activist, writer, speaker and facilitator who educates, advocates and inspires.

James Rowbottom:

AFL player and vocal supporter of conversations around respectful relationships, mental health, and youth wellbeing.