The following was contributed by Rebecca Heiner. 

A few months ago, I noticed some posts on social media that had a similar theme. It got my attention because they were all referencing the same book title and cryptically referring to a specific part of the book, even going as far to list the exact page number. For example, one post I saw was a video of an older teenage girl (maybe 16 or 17), who was sitting in airport waiting area and noticing a girl across from her reading this book. The caption read “I wonder if she’s made it to page 136 yet?” It also listed the acronym “IYKYK,” which stands for “if you know you know.”

Well, I didn’t know. And as the mom of a teenage daughter, I felt I had seen enough of these posts to convince me that maybe I should. So, I googled the title of the book along with the phrase “parents guide,” which is what I often do when my kids want to watch or read something I’m unfamiliar with. Websites, such as Common Sense Media, offer ratings and details about media content for parents. I often turn to these resources for information.

In searching the parent guide of this particular book, the first description that popped up said “Lots of graphic, erotic sex in a fluffy college romance.” Immediately I was aware of the word “erotic.” By definition the word means something that is intended to arouse sexual feelings, desire, or excitement. Did I want my teenage daughter reading anything that was considered “erotic?” As someone who chooses to keep their own mind and thoughts as clean as possible, I was sure that I didn’t.

A Disturbing Trend Hiding in Plain Sight

This experience opened my eyes to the increased attention that seems to be focused on these types of books (especially among teenagers). Under the hashtags #smut, #smutbooks, or #spicybooks, people of all ages jump on social media to share their experience reading the latest “spicy” book. Labeling it something cute like “spicy” takes the edge off the reality of what they are really doing: normalizing the consumption of narrative pornography and gathering a community of readers unapologetically indulging in the depictions of graphic sex. The content has garnered a lot of attention, 4.8 billion viewers, and delves into topics such as sexual exploration and kinks. The content creators discussing the books are often queer and very open about their orientation and habits.

What parents would naturally be horrified about their kids seeing acted out on a screen is now hiding behind the guise of innocent looking literature, and it’s not always easy to spot. With the book I mentioned above, one of the most misleading things about it was the cover. It features a cartoon like drawing of a girl and boy, which gives it an innocent feel. Above the picture a quote says, “Sweltering chemistry, sizzling banter, and swoon worthy romance.” But if you read the detailed descriptions of this “swoon worthy romance” in the parent’s guide, you quickly discover this is no innocent Hallmark channel “rom-com,” and it’s definitely not for kids.

Porn is Porn

The past decade has produced ample research showing the harm porn can do And while it’s true that different types of porn can have different effects, reading “erotica” can be just as addictive as viewing porn. Whether it’s viewed on a screen, in a magazine, or described detail by detail in writing, porn is porn. And since written porn can be hidden between the pages of a book, it’s easy to slip by unnoticed by parents. Parents may think they are buying their child a fun book about a teenage crush and have no idea their child is reading graphic sex scenes.

What Can You Do?

Parents, being aware of the rise in smut literature, especially in books available to kids, is the first step. Finding out what is popular and what is trending among teens is important. Make sure to do research and learn about the books your kids are reading or want to read. And monitor what they are watching on social media as much as possible. Of course, this requires more effort on your part, but it is worth it to help preserve any innocence of youth that we can.

Most importantly, talk to your kids. Ask questions about books they have heard about, or books they want to read. Talk to them about avoiding pornography in any form and build a trusting and open relationship so they feel comfortable talking to you. Teach them about curiosity, healthy relationships, respect for others, and trusting their gut when they come across something that makes them uncomfortable. The things you say will really have an impact on their view of the world and help them make good choices about literature for themselves.