Figures from the landmark Australian Child Maltreatment study show peer-on-peer sexual assault is on the rise with nearly one in five young people aged 16 to 24 having been sexually assaulted by another teen.
Researchers say there are clear links between the trauma of sexual assault and mental health issues which often first emerge in adolescence, with ABS data showing a nearly 50 per cent spike in mental health issues among young people in the past 15 years.
Academics theorise the rise in sexual assault rates is being caused by social media and access to hardcore pornography.
One study from the United States found that 9 in 10 of the most popular mainstream pornography videos display violence against women, and, in almost all cases, the women featured respond with pleasure or neutrally.