Protecting kids in a digital world: Recognizing the signs of pornography exposure and exploitation
In this episode, we tackle one of the most difficult yet increasingly important conversations facing nurses, parents, and caregivers: the impact of pornography exposure on children and adolescents. Pediatric nurse and sexual assault nurse examiner Heidi Olson discusses how early exposure can influence development, relationships, sexual behavior, grooming, exploitation, and online safety, while offering practical, trauma-informed strategies for talking with young people. Listeners will learn how to recognize red flags, identify vulnerable youth, respond to concerns, and navigate emerging challenges such as sextortion and AI-generated sexual content. Most importantly, this episode equips health care professionals with actionable tools and hopeful insights to help protect and support children in today's digital world. Read the related article in the August issue of Nursing2026, "Childhood exposure to pornography and the normalization of online exploitation." Transcript Heidi Olson, RN, MSN, CPN, SANE-P, is a Certified Pediatric Nurse, Certified Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, and nationally recognized educator on child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and exploitation. As Founder and President of Paradigm Shift Training and Consulting, she equips professionals with practical, trauma-informed strategies to identify and respond to vulnerable populations. Drawing on extensive experience in pediatric and forensic nursing, Heidi has taught at the university level and currently serves as a TeleSANE for Penn State University, providing expert forensic consultation and patient care to rural and underserved hospitals throughout the United States. Heidi previously managed the SANE Program at Children's Mercy Kansas City, where she performed or reviewed more than 1,500 pediatric forensic examinations, including many involving suspected trafficking. In this role, she collaborated extensively with law enforcement, child protective services, and a large multidisciplinary team. She also educated hundreds of healthcare professionals on topics related to sexual violence. Heidi continues to serve as an expert witness for the prosecution in sexual assault cases. In 2019, Heidi implemented an evidence-based screening process in the emergency department that has resulted in hundreds of vulnerable children being identified as victims of exploitation. She has testified in support of legislation that was ultimately passed into law and participated in a Capitol Hill briefing focused on protecting children online. Heidi has also testified at the United Nations about the importance of protecting children from pornography exposure. Heidi has done groundbreaking work to raise awareness about the role of pornography in influencing child-on-child sexual assault and exploitation. She is the published author of a peer-reviewed article on childhood pornography exposure. In January 2025, she had the honor of submitting an amicus brief on this topic to the United States Supreme Court. Heidi has also been featured in several documentaries addressing these issues, including Vulnerable Innocence, which has received 24 awards. In 2023, she received the Cry Purple Award, which recognizes citizens doing outstanding anti-trafficking work in their communities. As a survivor of sexual abuse, Heidi is living proof that healing is possible. One of her greatest joys is supporting other survivors as they navigate their own healing journeys.
