Kids and Porn: The Real Dangers of Exposing Children to Pornography

Pornography, with its message that sex without responsibility or care is both acceptable and desirable, can be causing more harm that many people realize- especially when it comes to our children. Beyond robbing them of their innocence and giving them an unrealistic vision of what sex should be, recent studies have shown that exposure to explicit sexual images at a young age can actually cause permanent psychological harm to kids and teens.

According to The Journal of Sexual Research, children under the age of fourteen who have been exposed to pornography have a greater tendency to become involved in deviant or criminal sexual behavior as an adult- especially rape. (That fact alone is enough to have many parents running to unplug their home computers) Additionally, because it is in a child’s nature to imitate the things that they see, read, or hear about, children and teens that have seen pornography are twice as likely to become involved in sexual activities at a much earlier age- a trend that can be tracked by the ever increasing number of teenage STD cases. Today, one in four sexually active people under the age of 21 is carrying some kind of sexually transmitted disease. That’s over three million cases annually.

As if all of that weren’t frightening enough, there is yet another scary trend that many say can be traced back, at least in part, to an early exposure to pornography: children acting out towards other children in a sexual or violent way. Like children who have themselves been molested, kids who viewed porn often end up forcing the things they have seen or experienced on their younger peers.

So what are a concerned parent’s options? More than a few have found themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place. After all, getting rid of your home computer is probably not going to work. But there are alternatives. For example, try moving the computer out of your child’s room, and into a public part of the house. Sit down with your teens, and explain to them the real dangers- not only of pornography, but of unprotected sex. And, of course, installing a quality internet filter can help you keep track of what your kids are doing while on the internet.

Help When You Need It-The Importance of Accountability Partners

Overcoming any addiction is a struggle on the deepest level. It affects every part of your life. And when it comes to a pornography addiction, the fight can be made worse by the fact you probably can not remove the source of your greatest temptation from your home. If you were wrestling with an alcohol addiction, you would throw away or lock up all the bottles of liquor in your cabinet. But, for most people, it’s not feasible to take their computers out of the house. So what do you do when you need a little extra help? One of the most effective methods for conquering a porn addiction involves finding an accountability partner.

As the term implies, an accountability partner is someone who will help you become accountable for your actions. In other words, this is someone who will not only help you face your demons, but take responsibility for your own recovery.

A large part of what makes internet porn so addictive is the anonymity that the internet provides. No need to embarrass yourself by renting adult movies or requesting magazines from a convenience store clerk- simply boot up your desk top, and you’re free to roam the web. An accountability partner strips away the secretive nature of this kind of pornography. A weekly printout of every website that you have visited brings your actions to light. Knowing that someone will be seeing exactly what you’re doing may be the impetus you need to flex your will power.

Choose your accountability partner carefully. Remember, this person is going to be an integral part of your support system. It has to be someone whom you can rely on- and who cares enough for you to not only point out when you’ve fallen off the wagon, but who will help you dust yourself off and climb back on. Many people choose to make their spouse their accountability partner- which can often help to rebuild some of the trust that is lost after a partner admits to having an addiction of this nature. Others prefer to keep their accountability partner outside of the home, selecting instead a friend, relative, or religious figure.

Once you’ve decided on who your accountability partner will be, then it’s time to choose a method to implement your new plan. Block-Porn.Org recommends a fully managed internet filtering system that will take the work out of your hands; because the easier it is, the more likely you are to stick with it. (Check out My Internet Doorman, a program that will send your accountability partner a detailed list of every website you’ve visited, as well as design a customized internet filter to suit your specific needs.)

Getting your life back together after an addiction of any kind takes time, patience, and hard work. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. An accountability partner can make all the difference on your path to recovery.