Magazines which are theoretically aimed at the 16-25 age group are in fact mostly read by boys up to 15. In short Britain's young men, who once thrilled to adventure stories and tales of dashing heroism, now learn how to have sex, why to have sex, and that everybody else is having sex. The second study notes an alarming increase in sexual activity among young teenagers. Dr. Candace Currie of the university's Research Unit into Health and Behavioural Change points out that the same trends reach beyond the area of sexual activity. Children are becoming involved in a whole range of adult experiences much earlier than they once did, she said.
Children have a larger disposable income and their lifestyles have changed.
Smoking has also doubled in the last decade among 12 to 15 year olds. Currie disputes the argument that there is a link between sex education in schools and the increase in sexual activity. Something has gone wrong in Britain. A century ago the topic of sexuality never reared its head in public. The only real laws on the subject were those concerning the age of consent, implemented in an attempt to stem the tide of child prostitution.