| This qualitative study investigated the experiences of deaf youth in using various sources of information regarding sex, with specific attention given to their social media use in this pursuit. Deaf adults were interviewed by e-mail and asked to discuss their experiences in being educated about sex during their adolescent years. A variety of sources were found to be valuable to subjects including formal teaching on sex, parental input, and information from friends, which mirrors those of the hearing population. However, subjects indicated that their hearing loss created challenges for the accessibility to the information provided by these sources. The Internet and social media were discussed by deaf subjects as more accessible alternatives to in- person communication, as it was easier and more comfortable to find information and communicate about sex using these media, particularly among friends. The Theory of Motivated Information Management was used to contextualize the information-seeking behaviors of the subjects. While most respondents indicated that they sought out the sex information they desired, a few chose not to seek information due to fear of potential negative outcomes. Subjects disclosed that they were aware of the potential fallaciousness of social media but, nonetheless, found them to be relevant sources for discovering the opinions and experiences of others, particularly friends. Several subjects revealed that they could make connections between social media use and their subsequent beliefs and behavior. The findings suggest that deaf adolescents are readily using social media as sources of sex information although they are uncertain of their credibility. |
