Whether we like it or not, the teenage experience has taken on a new dimension. Gone are the days of handwritten notes exchanged in classrooms or eagerly rushing home for a beloved TV show.
Today's teens seamlessly blend texting with content consumption, even within school hours. For both students and staff, the digital space can be confusing, intense, and constant. More often than not, our confidence is low and our embarrassment is high when we attempt to address students’ online experiences. Let's face it, who received guidance on addressing sensitive topics like teen sexting and exposure to explicit content? This is where I come in. My mission is to empower adults with the tools and confidence to guide teens through their online journeys, especially when things get racy. When adults grow in their own comfort and openness then teens feel safe to turn to us when things go wrong. Together, let's embrace this new age and bridge the gap between generations, ensuring that both adults and teens thrive in the digital era. |
Keynote and Workshop Offerings
For K-12 and Health Education Professionals School climate related to bullying and sexual harassment can be transformed through media literacy and sex education. But there are many creative ways to make that happen outside of the classroom. I have 4 keynote lectures that raise awareness on teens' online lives, so that school staff are inspired to address the targets that reduce online cyberbullying and sexual harassment. These talks will improve the whole school ecosystem (from teachers to counselors).
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Districts will walk away with a 3-point plan for student-centered solutions to the problems of student sexting, online sexual harassment, or viewing pornography at school.
Educational Professionals are saying:
"Working with high school students, this will help me have informed conversations with students and parents regarding adolescent sexuality."-Pennsylvania Student Assistant Professional
"As a school counselor, there are several situations and sensitive subjects you have to talk to students about, that Megan’s training has prepared me for." -State College Area School Psychologist
"I became more aware of how to deal with pornography and sexual issues in schools…even in the elementary grades. The information will help in discussions of a good touch bad touch program in our lower grades."-Pennsylvania School Nursing Program
"This was easily the most disturbing presentation that I have ever seen at a conference. It is mind-boggling what these internet sites are doing to our culture and the complicity of the "mainstream" media." -Health Educator at the University of Montana
"A wealth of information, statistics, and current trends in the field. Very informative and well planned." -Berks County, PA Administrator
Educational Professionals are saying:
"Working with high school students, this will help me have informed conversations with students and parents regarding adolescent sexuality."-Pennsylvania Student Assistant Professional
"As a school counselor, there are several situations and sensitive subjects you have to talk to students about, that Megan’s training has prepared me for." -State College Area School Psychologist
"I became more aware of how to deal with pornography and sexual issues in schools…even in the elementary grades. The information will help in discussions of a good touch bad touch program in our lower grades."-Pennsylvania School Nursing Program
"This was easily the most disturbing presentation that I have ever seen at a conference. It is mind-boggling what these internet sites are doing to our culture and the complicity of the "mainstream" media." -Health Educator at the University of Montana
"A wealth of information, statistics, and current trends in the field. Very informative and well planned." -Berks County, PA Administrator
Medical and Mental Health Professionals are saying:
"I never realized how much knowing about porn, sex, and gender could help me with my job!" -Student Health Services Physician Assistant at CSUS "Her training has helped me to work with youth to appreciate themselves and their bodies as current culture is teaching them not to." -Philadelphia Area Marriage & Family Therapist "Megan is a very posed, professional young woman. Tough topic -well done!" -State College Area LCSW "So much information, but handled with great professionalism." -Pittsburgh Area School Psychologist "I was amazed with all of her training, but the part that was the most valuable was on porn and the developing brain." -State College Area Clinical Psychologist |
For Parents of Teens and Tweens
Parenting teens and tweens has always been difficult. But today's digital native youth have sexual and romantic lives that playout in the online space in ways that their parents never could have imagined. These 3 lectures empower parents to have those uncomfortable but vital conversations about sex and the internet by equipping them with some knowledge and some courage to embrace the awkwardness!
Parents are saying:
"Every parent needs to know about internet porn and how much porn has changed...but not because we need to freak-out, but because we need to prepare our children for the sexual world we live in. Megan Maas helps us do just that. Go see her speak!" -State College Area parent "Way more than I wanted to know about teens and porn! Thought provoking….horrifying…yet oh so important. I want to know more." State College Area Mom "The amount of sex and porn that our youth are able to get to and how they post their own is beyond disturbing." -Sacramento Area Dad |
For University Students
Today's college students grew up with unlimited internet pornography and limited sex education. By the time they reach adulthood, sex can be confusing and sometimes scary. The most popular class that I teach is my college-level human sexuality class where students leave stating that everyone should know this stuff! This talk is a small piece of that experience.
University Students are saying:
"Your lecture is life-changing! I wish every college student HAD to see it." -CSUS female student "I never realized how much of what I thought I wanted sexually was really just from what I was seeing over and over again and didn't actually have to do with my real fantasies." -CSUS male student "I am so excited to share everything I learned from your lecture with all of my friends! We need to get real about sex and porn. Thank you!!!" -UNLV female student "Megan tells it like it is. As a male college student, it is scary how right she is. Every girl, no....every GUY needs to see this." Emory University male student |
PopPorn: Popular Culture and Pornography Education
The PopPorn program is a brief curriculum (2-4 hours) designed to give adults working with teens the knowledge they need regarding online youth culture. Focused on pornography, this curriculum has 4 modules: (1) The New Sexual Environment tackles pop culture and the history of pornography; (2) Gendered Sexual Culture describes the gender differences in how teens learn about sex and relationships; (3) Teen's Online Sexual Experiences reviews the research on porn use and other media experiences; and (4) Sexual Violence and the Internet provides an overview of the role of media in violence perpetration and victimization as well as how schools, teachers, and parents should respond. If you're interested in a training for your school or organization click here and we will get back to you. If you'd like a one-sheet to think about it or share, please click here. Virtual training opportunities are welcomed! |