A Glasgow sociologist who is involved in a trial where young people are trained to advise their peers on sexual health said young people had reported that pornography can be, “helpful.”

Kirsten Mitchell, of Glasgow University, said evidence suggests young people are having less sex than previous generations and teenage pregnancies are decreasing.

She said sex education in school was generally good and a lot of the fears about teen sexting may be unfounded as most of it is carried out by adults.

Although sexually transmitted diseases are rising, she said this could be down to viruses becoming better at mutating.

Ms Mitchell is also involved in a series of workshops, starting today at Glasgow Science Centre, which aims to cover the questions about sex, “not answered in school.”

She said: “We need to know more about the effects of porn. There’s that issue of panic without having the data to back it up.

“There are negatives to it...but there are also positive sides.

“Some young people have actually told us it’s (porn) been helpful.

“It’s about talking to young people about respect and responsibilities.

“There is no way of stopping it, the horse has bolted, so we have to be talking about it.

“It’s about making sure young people understand that it isn’t reality.

“It can create unrealistic expectations, it sets women up as sex objects.

“The biggest ‘sexters’ are adults.

“There’s a lot of evidence that this generation is better behaved. I don’t think we really know why that is.

“Unplanned pregnancies are going down.

“There is much greater awareness (in schools) particularly for minorities, young boys or girls who are coming out as being gay.

“We are getting better at tackling transgender issues. There is much more now about relationships and respect.

“There are good websites out there, Young Scot, the NHS, Brook.

“There’s still a lot of myths out there such as the one about men thinking about sex every seven seconds. If that was the case they would literally wouldn’t get anything else done.”

Kirstin is involved in a trial in the Lothians, which involves young people in fourth year receiving training to host a Facebook group, where other young people can ask questions about sex and relationships.

She said: “Young people learn a lot from their peers and peers are very influential.

“They often need assurance about what other people are doing. They think everyone is having sex.

“The evidence is, that young people are having a bit less sex that previous generations.”

She is also hosting a workshop, for pupils in fourth to sixth year, looking at the science behind sex education at Glasgow Science Festival on June 8, 12 and 15.

For more information and to take part go to http://bit.ly/2pfO032