Sex education in the UK and US appears to be failing. According to 2014 figures collected by the Office for National Statistics, Britain has the highest teen pregnancy rate in western Europe, while the US has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the developed world.

Schools in both countries have been criticised for failing to provide basic sex education to pupils, and increasingly young people are looking online for answers. While Tumblr is a well-known medium for pornography, with one in ten pages hosting adult content, there is a new group of blogs on the rise that aim to provide a more educational experience when it comes to sex, through “rebloggable” content, GIFs and “Ask Me Anything” sessions.

US university student Sarah Perry runs one of these hubs and set up her own Tumblr page called “Sex Ed with Sarah”. From telling young women how to masturbate, to discussing consent and safe sex, we chat to Sarah about her mission to make Tumblr a more positive place.

Why did you decide to start your Tumblr page?

Sarah Perry: I originally started “Sex Ed with Sarah” as a final project assignment at university. I had become increasingly curious about feminism and enjoyed binge-watching videos from YouTubers like Laci Green and Dr. Lindsey Doe. I would absorb as much as I could, learning about topics ranging from sexual freedom and shaving pubes to body confidence. Since I invested a lot of time and effort into the blog, I figured I would keep it going – and it's still going strong today.

In terms of goals, what would you like your blog to achieve?

Sarah Perry: People need to have somewhere they can go to vent and get trustworthy information. I want everyone to be practicing safer sex and communicating with whoever they’re with. But also to have fun! It's okay to laugh at yourself during sex. My Tumblr’s motto is “have fun, be safe”.

Why do you think teenagers are attracted to these type of blogs?

Sarah Perry: Young adults like Tumblr because of its casual atmosphere. It’s easy to find useful information too. While this can sometimes be risky due to false facts going around, there are a lot of legitimate health organisations that have their own Tumblr pages. It’s also easier to get a quick response from the people who run these sex education blogs. I know from personal experience that a lot of Tumblr users have health concerns or intimate questions that they’d like answered.

What seems to connect with a young audience?

Sarah Perry: I look to cover a wide range of topics within sexual education and want the information to be thorough yet simple. My blog needs to be a safe place where people who have questions or concerns can come. The links on my page include topics like basic anatomy, sexuality, discussing virginity and a list of reliable sources for sex education. I also share anything related to safe sex, birth control, body positivity, STDs, new research and feminist posts. I essentially reblog anything that catches my eye that I think would be relevant and helpful.

How do you help people out who get in touch?

Sarah Perry: I have a relatively small following, but I received an anonymous message from a young woman asking about masturbation and orgasms. I answered her question to the best of my ability and gave her some tips. It’s the sort of thing I love. I want to help people, give them the best advice I can and direct them to good sources if needed.

Do you think the Tumblr community is inherently more political than other places online when it comes to topics like sexuality and body positivity?

Sarah Perry: Women’s rights is a topic that is very much discussed on Tumblr, especially when it comes to reproductive rights and intersectionality. I'm always seeing posts about new legislation that's in place or being considered, accompanied by support or outrage from users. Topics like self-love take a more personal tone and aren’t politicised as much. While body positivity is a very vast social movement, I wouldn't necessarily call it political. But if you're looking for politically active young people in general, Tumblr is a good place to go. 

When it comes to Tumblr, do you think most teens are able to get a good sense of what sex is really about?

Sarah Perry: When there's such a broad range of messages that can be taken in, people should be careful. Although from my experience, the most popularly shared posts have decent information in them. There are also many more hidden gems on the internet that aren't popular but have a lot of value. Sites like Scarleteen, Gurl and Besider provide tons of information about sex and sexuality. Of course, these sites also have their own Tumblr pages.

Do you think state sex education is currently failing teenagers?

Sarah Perry: There absolutely needs to be better sex education for teens. It’s so frustrating to hear about abstinence only programmes in US schools, the defunding of Planned Parenthood and people who think that women can't make their own choices about their bodies. People can make their own decisions responsibly when taught properly and have access to support if needed. Tumblr can help achieve this.