Several international studies show that choking sex has become common among young people, and according to authorities and experts, most indications are that the development looks the same in Sweden.
The National Board of Forensic Medicine will soon present a government assignment on the matter, which, among other things, shows that repeated choking can not only lead to death but also likely cause brain damage in the long run. A survey study on the prevalence of choking sex among young people in Sweden is planned for next year.
Choking violence and choking sex are so much more common and also so much more dangerous than we previously thought, says Nina Larsson.
Violent material
Choking sex also normalizes the view of violence and rape, she says.
She believes that one explanation for the development is the amount of violent material on the internet that children can easily access.
We have far too much access to a lot of misery, plainly put, on the internet, both in social media and in other forums.
In, for example, the United Kingdom, they have gone so far as to explicitly prohibit all forms of choking with five years in prison as punishment, and this summer it was announced that they will also ban the depiction of choking sex in porn.
The school's role
Exactly what the government in Sweden may do remains to be seen, but Nina Larsson emphasizes the large amount of harmful content for children and young people.
Here, the school has an important role, and from the government's side, we have taken important steps, but here we must continue that work so that young people get their sex education in school and not through violent porn on the internet, she says.
The government is introducing, among other things, a mobile phone ban during school hours to protect children, she says.
But we definitely need to do more.
Society must work broadly with the issues, and parents also have a great responsibility, she emphasizes.
