Kids Getting Hooked on Porn

Written by PTC | Published June 12, 2013

Stat4The ease with which one can access hardcore pornography on the Internet has become a standard joke in the popular culture… but it’s not funny when innocent young children are being exposed to sexually explicit imagery. The push in schools and elsewhere to get kids connected and proficient on computers at a very young age means that school-aged children are spending more time on computers and online, putting them at greater risk of unwanted exposure to pornography and those images are eroding their innocence and shaping the way they view sexuality.
  • 79% of youth unwanted exposure to pornography occurs in the home.
  • 80% of 15-17-year-olds reported having multiple exposures to hard-core pornography
  • 90% of 8-16-year-olds report having viewed porn online, most while doing homework
  • There has been an increase in sexual material being presented to children despite the use of Internet filtering, blocking and other monitoring software being used by their parents at home.
All children are curious about the body and, as they get older, about sex. But exposure to pornography at a young age can set children on a destructive path that can end in addiction. Enough Is Enough and Fox News 59 recently highlighted this terrifying trend and the impact it’s having on children: "...seeing those images at a young age can have devastating effects later in life. It's so intriguing that it fixates their brain," said Sheets. "It is something called "brain lock" and it brain locks them and it drives them to this compulsion to want to look at more of it." "Experts say it is not just "kids being kids," or something they will grow out of; this p*rn* problem could continue to haunt these children into adulthood. It started when "Bill" was 9. "My brother and sister played a p*rn* in front of me," said "Bill."He is now a recovering sex addict." "And we have seen more and more cases of acting out what they are seeing. In February, seven 5th graders were suspended for playing "The Game." It involved boys and girls touching each other inappropriately." "This week, a mother sued an elementary school on the campus of Ball State University. The mother claimed her son, and other 10-year-olds repeatedly had access to p*rn*graphic materials. The complaint stated the boys would act what they saw out on each other." "...it breaks down to parents in the home, at church and at school. She said proactive steps could keep kids from getting curious with electronics by accessing parental controls." If you’re a parent, there are steps you can take to limit the likelihood your child will be exposed to pornography online. Make your child use a shared or family computer, and keep it in a family room or other central location where you can keep an eye on your child while he or she is online. Make use of internet filters, blocking and tracking software. “Friend” your child on social media sites. And keep lines of communication open so that if your child sees something inappropriate, they feel safe talking to you about it. These and more Internet safety tips are available at www.internetsafety101.org.

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