However, they are not better informed than others about transmission facts. Those who claim to know a lot are only slightly more knowledgeable than those who say they know only a fair amount. Most importantly, all teens, those who see themselves as knowledgeable and those who do not, radically underestimate the incidence of non-HIV STDs, and thus perhaps their risk of becoming infected. Sources of Information about STDs Sex education classes are teens number one source of STD information. Beyond classes and parents, teenage boys and girls learn about STDs from different sources, and girls make greater use of many sources.
Teen girls are also more likely to turn to parents, books or brochures, and health professionals.
Teens who say they learned a lot from these various sources tend to think they know more, but they may have a false sense of confidence. With a few exceptions, this survey provides little evidence that those who say they get a lot of information from any of these various sources are more knowledgeable. Sources like television, friends, and boy or girl friends have little or no effect on teens' knowledge. The good news is that some teens are evidently listening in sex education classes, and it may have paid off. Teens who say they learned a lot in sex ed.