Your Brain on Porn | Parenting, Young People & Online Exposure | Mary Sharpe
In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, host Lucy Johnston speaks with Mary Sharpe, co-founder and Chief Executive of The Reward Foundation, about the impact of online pornography on young people’s brains, relationships and overall wellbeing. Mary draws on over a decade of work teaching, researching and speaking internationally about how easy access to sexually explicit content can shape expectations, behaviours and developmental patterns — and how families and carers can respond with understanding rather than fear. This conversation offers compassionate guidance grounded in evidence, helping listeners deepen their awareness and support young people in navigating today’s digital world.
This episode is part of the 2026 season of Care Visions Talks and is now available on all major platforms.
For individual topics click on time code:
00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview
00:40 The Scale of Online Porn Exposure
01:35 Meet Mary Sharpe & The Reward Foundation
02:30 How Porn Access Has Changed
03:50 Average Age of First Exposure
04:45 The Adolescent Brain Explained
06:00 Porn as a “Supernormal Stimulus”
07:20 Dopamine, Reward & Addiction Pathways
08:50 Social Confidence & Relationship Impact
10:00 Brain Imaging & Addiction Evidence
11:30 Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men
12:40 Neuroplasticity & Adolescent Development
13:45 Mental Health Links — Anxiety & Depression
15:00 Prefrontal Cortex & Impulse Control
16:30 Compulsive Behaviour & Escalation
17:40 Pleasure Numbing & Dopamine Baselines
18:50 Social Withdrawal & School Refusal
20:00 Internet Use & Relationship Decline
21:00 Grooming Pathways via Social Platforms
22:00 Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (WHO) ]
23:10 Escalation to Extreme Content
24:20 Desensitisation & Novelty Seeking
25:30 Erectile Dysfunction & Arousal Conditioning
27:00 Relationship Breakdown & Intimacy Issues
28:30 Clinical Observations & Treatment Work
29:45 Porn Industry Influence & Public Narrative
31:00 Violence, Strangulation & Sexual Norms
32:30 Links to Youth Sexual Behaviour
34:00 Relationship Satisfaction Research
35:20 Porn as Sex Education
36:30 Impact on Girls & Young Women
38:00 Kink Culture & Normalisation
39:20 Consent, Law & Criminal Risk
41:00 Role of Schools & Education
42:30 What Parents & Carers Can Do
44:00 Smartphones & Developmental Readiness
45:30 Trauma, Vulnerability & Risk Groups
47:00 Warning Signs for Families
48:30 Family Dynamics & Secrecy
49:40 Having Conversations Without Shame
50:50 Online Safety Legislation
52:00 Recovery & Brain Reset Potential
53:10 Support Resources & Closing Reflections
Resources suggested by Care Visions:
The Reward Foundation https://rewardfoundation.org
Your Brain on Porn https://www.yourbrainonporn.com
Reward Foundation – Parent’s Guide https://rewardfoundation.org/parents-…
Reward Foundation – Online Course for Professionals
Reward Foundation – Schools & Lesson Plans https://rewardfoundation.org/schools/
Naked Truth Project https://nakedtruthproject.com
NoFap https://www.nofap.com
Stop It Now! https://www.stopitnow.org
World Health Organization – ICD-11 https://www.who.int/standards/classif…




