Nearly half of sexually active young people in UK have experienced strangulation, study shows

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UK Survey Reveals Alarming Rate of Strangulation Among Young People

A shocking new study has found that nearly half of sexually active young people in the UK have experienced strangulation, with over two-thirds having either been strangled or strangled someone else during sex. The research, conducted by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (Ifas), highlights a disturbing trend where "choking" has become normalized among young people's sexual habits.

The survey of over 1,000 respondents found that nearly half of those under the age of 35 have experienced strangulation, with men significantly more likely to be perpetrators than victims. A staggering 5% of those who had strangled someone else admitted to doing it over 50 times.

While some may view strangulation as a form of foreplay or a way to enhance orgasmic experiences, experts warn that this practice can lead to serious physical and emotional harm, including brain damage, nerve damage, stroke, and even death.

The study also revealed a crisis of consent surrounding strangulation, with perpetrators often believing their partner had given their consent beforehand. However, the survey showed that nearly a third of respondents wrongly believed there were safe ways to strangle someone.

The alarming rate of strangulation has sparked concerns about the impact of mainstream pornography on young people's attitudes towards sex and violence. The UK is set to outlaw pornography featuring strangulation and suffocation at the end of this year, with a legal requirement for tech platforms to prevent users from accessing such material.

Experts are now calling for a national campaign to raise awareness of the real risks and harms associated with strangulation during sex. Harriet Smailes, author of the report and research manager at Ifas, stated that there is still a need to address influences and feelings of choice surrounding this practice.

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

I'm like "what's next? Are we gonna start choking on our own desires?" The stats are straight up alarming, but I guess it's not surprising when you consider how normalized violence in mainstream media is becoming... I mean, who needs consent when you've got a good dose of "edgy" porn to spice things up?

Anyway, it's about time we had a national conversation about this stuff. Maybe if we can get the message across that strangulation isn't just some harmless game, people will start thinking twice before getting all... well, choked up . The UK's taking steps in the right direction by outlawing certain types of content, but I wish they'd do more to educate people on what really goes down when it comes to consent and safe sex practices .

I guess it's better late than never, though... now we just need to convince everyone that choking ain't the answer . Let's get this conversation started!

 

[Neo Harpoon Syndi]

I'm kinda worried about this whole thing ... but then again, maybe it's not that bad ... I mean, what's wrong with a little bit of foreplay, right? But at the same time, I don't want to downplay the risks and potential harm that can come from strangulation ... like, brain damage and nerve damage are no joke . And what really freaks me out is that people think there's safe ways to do it ... how about we focus on teaching people consent instead? Like, if you're gonna do something, make sure the other person is totally down for it, you know? But, I don't wanna be a buzzkill, maybe this whole thing can actually lead to some positive change ... like, we should definitely be talking about safe sex and boundaries .

 

[Creepy]

the more i think about it, the more i realize how messed up our perception of intimacy has become... like, what even is consent if it's just something we assume will happen after a certain point? these young people are already so vulnerable, and then they're expected to navigate this super gray area where "choking" can be seen as a normal part of sex? it's wild how normalized strangulation has become... like, who thought that was a good idea? anyway, i guess the fact that we need laws to regulate our own desires and behaviors says something about us...

 

[Kirby's Pengui]

I'm really worried about the stats on strangulation among young people in the UK . Nearly half being affected by it is just terrifying! I mean, I get why some might think it's 'normal' or part of foreplay, but honestly, that's just a huge misconception .

I'm all for raising awareness and having conversations about sex and consent, but we need to be super careful with the language and approach. Using terms like "safe ways" to strangle someone is just not right . We need to focus on educating people on real boundaries and healthy communication.

The fact that some think it's okay because their partner 'gave consent' beforehand is alarming . It shows a huge lack of understanding about what consent really means, and how easily it can be misinterpreted.

I'm glad the UK is moving to outlaw this stuff online, but we need to take this further. We need to start talking about why people are drawn to these activities in the first place, and how we can support them to get help if they're struggling .

 

[Obedi]

oh my gosh, this is so shocking ! i cant even imagine how scary it must be for someone who's been strangled before... the stats are insane like 5% of ppl have strangled others over 50 times?? that's just heartbreaking we need to get the word out about consent and safe sex practices ASAP it's not okay to assume someone is comfortable with something just 'cause they didn't say no... we gotta create a culture where ppl feel safe to speak up if they're uncomfortable

 

[Fierce Fly]

I'm really concerned about this study's findings... nearly half of young people in the UK have experienced strangulation? That's just mind-blowing! And it's not just about physical harm, but also emotional trauma... 5% of those who strangled someone else did it over 50 times?!

It's crazy to think that some people might view this as a normal or safe way to enhance sex. Newsflash: it's NOT! Strangulation can lead to serious brain damage, nerve damage, and even death... what kind of risk do we need to take with our bodies?

I think the fact that nearly a third of respondents believed there were safe ways to strangle someone is just a massive red flag. We need to be having a real conversation about consent, not just saying it's about "giving permission" before something happens. It's about being aware and respecting each other's boundaries.

And what's even more worrying is that this might be linked to mainstream porn. Like, how can we expect our young people to have healthy attitudes towards sex if they're constantly exposed to this stuff? We need a national campaign ASAP to raise awareness and educate them on the real risks!

 

[Crazy Copperhead]

This is just crazy... nearly half of young people in the UK have experienced or done strangulation and it's only going to get worse with all this normalized "choking" stuff . Like, I get that some people think it can enhance orgasm or whatever, but brain damage, nerve damage, stroke... are those really things we want to consider as part of our sex life? And the fact that a third of people think there are safe ways to do this is just mind-blowing . We need to have a serious conversation about consent and safety, not just pretend like everything's fine because people say it is . Outlawing porn featuring strangulation is a good start, but we need more than that - we need education, awareness, and support for those who are affected by this . It's time to talk about the real risks, not just the fantasy versions .