Kick-Ass Sex Educators Who Are Way More Than Just Their Instagram Feeds
In 2019, a pair of laws were passed: the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA). They were passed with the intention of making it easier to fight sex trafficking online.
Under these laws, websites are responsible if third-party accounts post ads for prostitution on their platforms. Sites have responded to this new responsibility by drawing up overly restrictive Terms of Service (TOS) that censor all sorts of sex-related content, including consensual sex work, educational content, and more.
Meanwhile, white supremacist content, hate speech, and fatphobia continue to run rampant.
You can read more about the initial impact of these laws in articles like this one and this one.
Anyway. On December 20, Instagram is implementing its updated TOS, and it’s vague as hell. Those of us who write about sexuality education or sex positivity or who use this platform as a source of income could be shadowbanned or deleted completely.
I just want to remind you that those kick-ass educators you see on Instagram? They’re more than just their Instagram feed. Here are the Instagram educators I’m following, and where else you can find them:
216Teens
@216Teens. I just started following these guys the other day. Their site was created by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, which partners with local health clinics, nonprofit organizations, and others working to improve teen health. 216Teens is their awareness campaign to prevent teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Cassandra Corrado
@feministsexed. Cassandra teaches sex ed for adults and creates some great video content for Rewire.News. To continue getting all that good stuff, follow her blog and sign up for her newsletter through her Patreon.
Domina Franco, M.Ed.
@domina_franco. I met this amazing sex educator at the National Sex Educator Conference. The content in her feed is consistently amazing. To make sure you don’t lose track of her work, head over to her website or follow her Facebook page.
Dr. Logan Levkoff
@loganlevkoff. Luckily, Instagram is not sexuality educator Logan’s main platform. For the good stuff, read one of her books. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Dr. Nadine Thornhill, Ed.D.
@nadinethornhill. Nadine is a certified sexuality educator specializing in child and adolescent sexuality and her Instagram stories kick butt. But you can also find her at her website and her YouTube channel, and you can subscribe to her newsletter.
Dr. Uchenna Ossai
@youseelogic. I looove Uchenna’s sex ed Instagram videos and I never want to be without her content in my life. Luckily, this sex-positive pelvic health physical therapist, sexuality educator, and counselor has launched an open-access sex ed platform, Woke Is the New Sexy. You can also find info on her consultation, coaching, and counseling services on her website and follow her on both Facebook and Twitter.
Elle Chase, CSE, ACS
@theellechase. Elle is a certified sexuality educator and an advocate for pleasure and body acceptance. She has a backup Instagram account, but you should also check out her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Eva Bloom
@whatsmybodydoing. Eva’s a sex researcher and educator. Over on her website, you can find her new ebook, A Compassionate Guide to Sexuality and COVID-19. She also has a newsletter she sends out through her Patreon, and a YouTube channel.
Giving the Talk
@givingthetalk. This account, run by sex educator Julia Feldman, M.A., shares invaluable, medically accurate information for people of all ages, genders, and identities. There’s a backup Instagram account you can also follow, or you can check out Julia’s website.
Everyone Deserves Sex Education
@every1deservessexed. Founded by sex and relationships educator Anne Hodder-Shipp, EDSE shares a ton of sex ed-related posts on their Instagram, but the meat of what they have to offer are their sex educator certification programs and workshop.
Jimanekia Eborn
@jimanekia. Jimanekia is a sex educator and trauma specialist with a ton of fantastic resources outside Instagram. Go to her website to learn more about her webinars, consulting services, and support groups, or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
JoEllen Notte
@joellennotte. JoEllen writes a lot about the intersections between sex and depression. Read her blog, buy her book, and follow her on Twitter.
Puberty: The Wonder Years
@pubertythewonderyears. On their feed, they share puberty education. On their site, they offer an entire curriculum for grades 4, 5, and 6, plus online workshops for both parents and educators.
School of Sexuality Education
@school_sexed. On Instagram, the School of Sexuality Education posts bright, fun graphics accompanied by essential sex ed lessons. On their website, you can learn more about their in-school workshops or you can give them a follow on Twitter.
Sex Education Alliance, LLC
@sexedalliance. This is a brand new community of sex educators and nonprofits focused on family education, and I happen to be a member. You can learn allll about them at their website.
Sex Positive Families, LLC
@sexpositive_families. This organization provides education and resources that help families raise sexually healthy children using a shame-free, comprehensive, and pleasure-positive approach. You can find plenty of fantastic content on their website and you should also check out founder Melissa Pintor Carnagey’s book Sex Positive Talks to Have with Kids. They’re also on Twitter and YouTube.
Teen World Confidential
@twconfidential. Run by nurse and health education specialist Kim Cook, the Teen World Confidential account is only a small sampling of what she offers on her main site. Go there to find medically-accurate, fact-based information about sexuality health for adolescents and the adults in their lives. And keep updated by signing up for the newsletter.
This Is a Vulva
@thisisavulva. I love how this account normalizes all vulvas with their image-heavy feed. Go to their website to learn more about their artwork and their workshops.
Yael R. Rosenstock Gonzalez
@yaelthesexgeek. Sex educator Yael is all over the damn place, juggling a ton of projects and programs. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, you can follow her business account at @kvibrations or sign up for her mailing list.
Yana Tallon-Hicks
@the_vspot. Yana is a couples & relationships therapist and a consent, sex & sexuality writer and educator living in Western Massachusetts. Her work centers around the belief that pleasure-positive & consent-based sex education can positively impact our lives and the world. Here’s her site, but you can also find her on Twitter and sign up for her newsletter.
Who are your favorite educators who are doing good work both on Instagram and off?