Graphic Sex Book Could Leave Kids Vulnerable to Paedophiles: Experts

Cover of "Welcome to Sex" Dr. Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes, who hosts the ABC Radio podcast "Ladies, We Need to Talk." Aimed at children aged 10 to 15, the book features detailed illustrations and instructions on how to engage in sexual intercourse, as well as information on male and female genitalia, and gender identity issues. This photo is taken in Sydney, Australia on July 19, 2023. (The Epoch Times)

Authors of a graphic sex book for under 18 year-olds, “Welcome to Sex,” have come under further pressure after experts condemned the book’s content as “dangerous” saying it could put children at risk of paedophilia.

The book provides advice to children on how to take naked selfies, saying their faces should not be featured in any photos.

Cyber safety expert and former police officer Susan McLean, along with child psychiatrist Dr. Jillian Spencer, both condemned the advice as dangerous and warned that it could facilitate criminal activity like child exploitation, while also impacting the child’s self-worth.

Ms. Maclean said that the authors of the book, Yumi Styles and Dr. Melissa Kang, had no clue about the reality of the digital world kids faced today.

“They are encouraging behaviour that is likely to cause a young person to be arrested and charged, and that is not okay,” she said in a statement.

“The head is not the important part; you are still creating child abuse material which is a very serious offence.”

The book, which is marketed as “a frank, age-appropriate introductory guide to sex and sexuality” has faced increasing pushback over the past two weeks after it was revealed to contain instructions on how to engage in both heterosexual and homosexual intercourse, as well as information on masturbation, male and female genitalia, and gender identity (including transgenderism).

Content Makes Kids Vulnerable to Blackmail, Paedophila: Experts

Ms. Maclean also warned that advising kids they could send nude images left them vulnerable to peer-based blackmail and paedophiles.

“Once you send an image, you have lost control over it,” she said.

“I have seen children become blackmailed at school. It became a competition among the boys of, ‘Guess the body from the headless nude photo.’ I’ve seen paedophiles tell children to just cut their heads off [initially], and eventually, they get a full nude photo. ”

Rachael Wong, the CEO of Womens Forum Australia, lambasted the authors saying this advice was unacceptable and that the book simply should not have any advice on sharing nude photos.

“For those saying ’the book is sex education'—there is a huge difference between giving children age-appropriate information and prematurely exposing them to graphic, highly sexualised material,” Ms. Wong said.

She is spearheading a campaign to make the book unavailable in Australia, focused on the promotion to, and accessibility of, this book to children.

“The age of consent in Australia is between 16-17, depending on the state or territory (there are also exceptions which can raise the age of consent to 18 years where a person under 18 is under the ‘special care’ of an adult). This book should not be available for purchase by, or targeted at, children below this age. There is no reason children need a how-to manual for any of the sexually explicit acts included in the book,” she said.

“Even social media platforms have been censoring posts about the book because the content is deemed to be too explicit. It is ludicrous that a book deemed too explicit for adults online is considered appropriate for children.”

Meanwhile, child psychiatrist Dr. Spencer said she was also concerned about the advice around selfies because it tells children that their naked body is the most important thing when they are attempting to connect with people or form relationships.

“The book appears to inundate children with a lot of graphic adult sexual information and pictures,” she said.

“It is likely to frighten some children and encourage children to view sex as a series of acts that are separate from any emotional connection with another person.”

Big W Claims Staff Experienced Abuse Over Book

In response to the community pushback, a spokesperson from Woolworths, Big W’s parent company, said the title had been removed from its parenting range.

“We know there has been a wide range of views about the book; however, it’s disappointing that there have been multiple incidents of abuse directed at our store team members in the past 24 hours,” the spokesperson said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“To keep our team and customers safe, the book will be available to customers online only from later today.”

The publisher, Hardie Grant Publishing, said it was “proud” to support “Welcome to Sex,” calling it “an educational and age-appropriate guide for tweens and teens and their parents about sex and sexuality.”

“Welcome to Sex was developed in response to genuine questions about sex from adolescents to [online teen magazine] Dolly Doctor over a 20-year period, as well as comprehensive interviews with young people and adolescent experts about issues they are facing, particularly in an online world,” said Kate Brown, managing director of Hardie Grant, in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“‘Every young person develops at their own rate, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to make their own decisions about what is appropriate to share with their family.”

Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this article.