The new Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a survey of 14,000 American high school students conducted annually by the Centers for Disease Control, shows that African-American and white teens are less likely to be sexually active than they were in 1991, though the declines are more precipitous for African-Americans.
* In 2007, 66% of African-American students had ever had sexual intercourse, while in 1991, 82% had.
* In 2007, 44% of white students ever had sexual intercourse, while in 1991, 50% had.
* Hispanic students are no less likely to be sexually active in 2007 than in 1991. 2007, 52% of Hispanic students ever had sexual intercourse, while in 1991, 53% had.
Even as fewer teens are having sex, teen television dramas have ramped it up. Compare the relatively tame My So-Called Life (circa 1994) with Gossip Girl, for which the “OMFG” ad campaign involved images too racy for this family friendly site.