Is it right for parents to allow their teenagers to look at porn

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Is it right for parents to allow their teenagers to look at porn? Why or why not? Should they face legal trouble if they do? Were your parents OK with you looking at porn? Would you be OK with it?

[Amnesiac]

Porn can actually be an educational experience, and I'd place a hefty bet that a majority of teenagers have seen porn in their lifetimes. Porn is sex on video, that's all it is, and everybody's going to experience it sometime in life. There's no inherit danger in letting teens look at porn, as long as they're warned of two things:

1. Most of it's fake
2. Watching porn doesn't make you ready for sex, use protection, ect.

I don't believe there should be legal ramifications for teens being shown or watching porn.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Porn can actually be an educational experience, and I'd place a hefty bet that a majority of teenagers have seen porn in their lifetimes. Porn is sex on video, that's all it is, and everybody's going to experience it sometime in life. There's no inherit danger in letting teens look at porn, as long as they're warned of two things:

1. Most of it's fake
2. Watching porn doesn't make you ready for sex, use protection, ect.

I don't believe there should be legal ramifications for teens being shown or watching porn.

I just feel that teens are too young too look at porn because they do not always have a full understanding of sex so I consider it inappropriate for them. I am concerned about legal ramifications because porn sites say that in order to use the site you must be age 18 or whatever the legal age to use porn is.

[Amnesiac]

I just feel that teens are too young too look at porn because they do not always have a full understanding of sex so I consider it inappropriate for them. I am concerned about legal ramifications because porn sites say that in order to use the site you must be age 18 or whatever the legal age to use porn is.

If you think teens don't know anything about sex, you are badly mistaken. I mean, just go to P101 and take a look, it's ridiculous how much teenagers know about sex. It's one of the main pillars of modern teenage society.

True, legally people under 18 aren't supposed to view porn, but it's probably the least enforced law in existence. The authorities couldn't care less about a bunch of horny adolescents watching porn videos. I've never heard of a single case of somebody being fined or arrested for watching porn underage.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

If you think teens don't know anything about sex, you are badly mistaken. I mean, just go to P101 and take a look, it's ridiculous how much teenagers know about sex. It's one of the main pillars of modern teenage society.

True, legally people under 18 aren't supposed to view porn, but it's probably the least enforced law in existence. The authorities couldn't care less about a bunch of horny adolescents watching porn videos. I've never heard of a single case of somebody being fined or arrested for watching porn underage.

I was talking about the parents getting in trouble if they let their children watch porn. And I still feel that it is inappropriate because although teens do know about sex they do not understand everything about it and porn will not help necessarily. I feel this way because this is how my parents raised me with porn they told that they considered it inappropriate for my age along with lots of other shows and movies that they consider to be inappropriate.

[Amnesiac]

I was talking about the parents getting in trouble if they let their children watch porn. And I still feel that it is inappropriate because although teens do know about sex they do not understand everything about it and porn will not help necessarily. I feel this way because this is how my parents raised me with porn they told that they considered it inappropriate for my age along with lots of other shows and movies that they consider to be inappropriate.

Sure, there are technical legal ramifications for parents letting their kids watch porn, but that's also rarely enforced because doing so is difficult under existing privacy laws.

I strongly believe that the current generation of teens is highly educated in sexuality. We know how it works. Now, that doesn't mean some of us won't be stupid, but a majority of people 13 and over know everything there is to know about sex and are mature enough to handle that knowledge. We are also mature enough to not mimic movies and television shows.

I don't believe in parents sheltering their teenagers from the world, it's unhealthy and creates a socially awkward adult.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Sure, there are technical legal ramifications for parents letting their kids watch porn, but that's also rarely enforced because doing so is difficult under existing privacy laws.

I strongly believe that the current generation of teens is highly educated in sexuality. We know how it works. Now, that doesn't mean some of us won't be stupid, but a majority of people 13 and over know everything there is to know about sex and are mature enough to handle that knowledge. We are also mature enough to not mimic movies and television shows.

I don't believe in parents sheltering their teenagers from the world, it's unhealthy and creates a socially awkward adult.

I do not think this is sheltering. I just do not want any children of mine to see non-simulated sex. Now if it is simulated sex in a a movie or nudity in a non-pornographic context then I will consider watching it with them but if it is porn then that is completely out of the question.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

@ TheDarthEgg Do your parents allow you to look at porn? What do they think of it? If they told you you could not look at porn would you listen to them or sneak and do it? I ask this because I am trying to understand your reasoning in this debate.

[The Dark Lord]

I'd say that most parents don't know if there children watch porn but if they did, then what difference does that make? Surely its better seeing what happening as opposed to finding out on the play ground?

[enzenzz]

They shouldn't encourage it but if they found out that their child is watching they should explain the differences between porn and reality. They just have to make sure that the child does not confuse porn as the real thing.

[Perseus]

I do not think this is sheltering. I just do not want any children of mine to see non-simulated sex. Now if it is simulated sex in a a movie or nudity in a non-pornographic context then I will consider watching it with them but if it is porn then that is completely out of the question.

Even if teens can't watch porn or something, we still have an imagination. And what does watching a movie with a sex scene, etc. with your parents' accomplish?

[Jess]

my parents would never allow it. besides, I don't even look at it. I wouldn't want my children to look at it either. No offense, but I think it's really disgusting.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Even if teens can't watch porn or something, we still have an imagination. And what does watching a movie with a sex scene, etc. with your parents' accomplish?

I meant that if they want to watch a movie that has sex scenes in it, I would rather watch it with them because I do not consider such a thing appropriate for children of mine to watch alone. I feel this way because that is how my parents dealt with it. They would not let me watch such content unless they were in the room and felt that I could handle it.

[Perseus]

I meant that if they want to watch a movie that has sex scenes in it, I would rather watch it with them because I do not consider such a thing appropriate for children of mine to watch alone. I feel this way because that is how my parents dealt with it. They would not let me watch such content unless they were in the room and felt that I could handle it.

But what does someone who is older than them in the room change? They still see it.

[One_Kay]

Originally Posted by TheDarthEgg View Post
Porn can actually be an educational experience, and I'd place a hefty bet that a majority of teenagers have seen porn in their lifetimes. Porn is sex on video, that's all it is, and everybody's going to experience it sometime in life. There's no inherit danger in letting teens look at porn, as long as they're warned of two things:

1. Most of it's fake
2. Watching porn doesn't make you ready for sex, use protection, ect.

I don't believe there should be legal ramifications for teens being shown or watching porn.

I do agree with this and I don't.

Why I Agree? I agree because, people learn better when they see ( "Monkey see, Monkey do" ). It's something educational for teenagers to see and learn the affects of it. I mean if a teenager(s) just watch for the fun of it then it's something bad for them.

Why I Disagree? Teenagers don't really take caution of STD's or HIV's when it comes to this. Teenagers can learn the techniques of Pornography + Video, and apply that to their life. When they are trying it for the first time, they don't focus on the Bad Effects, they focus on giving their partner pleasure. And thats why it's bad for teenagers.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

But what does someone who is older than them in the room change? They still see it.

I would rather watch it with them if they watch it at all so that I can explain the context and the motives of the characters.

[MacMilker]

Porn can actually be an educational experience, and I'd place a hefty bet that a majority of teenagers have seen porn in their lifetimes. Porn is sex on video, that's all it is, and everybody's going to experience it sometime in life. There's no inherit danger in letting teens look at porn, as long as they're warned of two things:

1. Most of it's fake
2. Watching porn doesn't make you ready for sex, use protection, ect.

I don't believe there should be legal ramifications for teens being shown or watching porn.

Right, totally agree.
I think if parents were to teach there children this, then I think they're aloud to watch porn.
But definitely get an understanding if your child wants to watch porn, or has started to jack off. Not just to bring it up.

[Amnesiac]

@ TheDarthEgg Do your parents allow you to look at porn? What do they think of it? If they told you you could not look at porn would you listen to them or sneak and do it? I ask this because I am trying to understand your reasoning in this debate.

I don't know what my parents' position on porn is. It's not a topic that's ever been up for discussion. If I was told not to look at it, I'd probably do it anyway.

Why I Disagree? Teenagers don't really take caution of STD's or HIV's when it comes to this. Teenagers can learn the techniques of Pornography + Video, and apply that to their life. When they are trying it for the first time, they don't focus on the Bad Effects, they focus on giving their partner pleasure. And thats why it's bad for teenagers.

That's why I said parents need to teach children about the risks of unprotected sex. I never said that teens should learn everything about sex from porn, it could be a "visual aid", but they still have to be warned that what they see isn't necessarily what happens in real life.

[Perseus]

I would rather watch it with them if they watch it at all so that I can explain the context and the motives of the characters.

You lost me at "context". Could you explain that for me, please?

[Jess]

why do people like to watch porn (shudders)??? I find it disgusting

[The Dark Lord]

why do people like to watch porn (shudders)??? I find it disgusting

I'd have thought that was obvious. For pleasure. It is a personal decision to watch porn, if you don't like it then don't watch it. btw if your kids want to watch porn, then they will watch it, whether you like it or not

[ShyGuyInChicago]

You lost me at "context". Could you explain that for me, please?

I meant that I could explain the circumstances of the sex scenes in the movie and why the characters are having sex as well the message the filmmakers are trying to send concerning sex.

[huginnmuninn]

I meant that I could explain the circumstances of the sex scenes in the movie and why the characters are having sex as well the message the filmmakers are trying to send concerning sex.

really? would you expain every other part of the movie like that?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

really? would you expain every other part of the movie like that?

If they have questions. Are you saying that your parents let you watch R-rated movies with them and never tried to answer any questions they may have had. There are ratings called parental guidance where it is suggested that parents watch certain shows with their children if they are of a certain age where they may not understand. My reasoning is based on the descriptions of movie ratings.

http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means

What Each Rating Means

G — General Audiences. All Ages Admitted. A A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture. The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a "children’s" motion picture. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated motion pictures. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex scenes or drug use are present in the motion picture.

PG — Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children. A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision. The more mature themes in some PG-rated motion pictures may call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.

PG-13 — Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13. A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.

R — Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian. An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.

NC-17 — No One 17 and Under Admitted. An NC-17 rated motion picture is one that, in the view of the Rating Board, most parents would consider patently too adult for their children 17 and under. No children will be admitted. NC-17 does not mean "obscene" or "pornographic" in the common or legal meaning of those words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense. The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children

I find it shocking that you think it is strange that parents think that certain things are inappropriate for their kids and teens and that it does not make sense why parents may not want their kids to watch such things unless they watch it with them.

[Perseus]

I meant that I could explain the circumstances of the sex scenes in the movie and why the characters are having sex as well the message the filmmakers are trying to send concerning sex.

I understand if they're like eight, but what if they're, y'know, a teenager? I learned about sex when I was eleven. I don't need my parents next to me when I watch an R-rated movie.

[BOBBY HILL]

Viewing porn under the age of 18 (some places 21) is illegal

[Sith Lord 13]

Viewing porn under the age of 18 (some places 21) is illegal

There'a difference between what is legal and what is right.

[The Joker]

why do people like to watch porn (shudders)??? I find it disgusting

It's people shagging.

People are interested/want to shag, therefore they watch videos of it.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Not all teenagers are mature enough to handle sex. Not all of them have the capacity to make a good decision about sex. This is why there are age of consent laws. Plus, lots of teens who have had sex wish they had waited. Anyway, I feel that porn is inappropriate for teens because they do not necessarily understand everything there is about sex. When it comes to R-rated movies, I may let my own future teens watch it if I feel that they can learn something from the movie with my help. This is why I will not allow my teenagers to watch porn. Not to mention I do not want to get into legal trouble and possibly go to jail and even lose custody depending on the teenager's age Plus, certain movies are R-rated are because they contain content that most parents would not necessarily want their children to see without them watching it with them if at all.

[Amnesiac]

Not all teenagers are mature enough to handle sex. Not all of them have the capacity to make a good decision about sex. This is why there are age of consent laws. Plus, lots of teens who have had sex wish they had waited. Anyway, I feel that porn is inappropriate for teens because they do not necessarily understand everything there is about sex. When it comes to R-rated movies, I may let my own future teens watch it if I feel that they can learn something from the movie with my help. This is why I will not allow my teenagers to watch porn. Not to mention I do not want to get into legal trouble and possibly go to jail and even lose custody depending on the teenager's age Plus, certain movies are R-rated are because they contain content that most parents would not necessarily want their children to see without them watching it with them if at all.

There has never — EVER — been a case of a parent losing custody of his or her children over them looking at porn. It's one of the least discussed, least enforced laws you could imagine.

Also, you unreasonably claim that ALL teenagers aren't mature enough for sex. There are plenty of teens, a majority I'd say, who understand sex and its risks and know how to handle such information responsibly. It's only a small portion that take it too far. There are plenty of teens who are also mature enough to handle the content shown in R-rated movies. Almost all of my friends at school have seen many R-rated movies, and that hasn't affected their personalities in the slightest. Last year we watched Schindler's List in English class. It was educational, but almost nothing was cut out. Was anyone disturbed? No, we all got through it fine. Nobody was scarred for life because of a movie.

As a parent, I'm not going to shelter my children from the world. All that does is create a weak and socially awkward teenager. We can't tell our kids the world is a happy place where nothing weird or disgusting goes on.

[Sage]

If they have questions. Are you saying that your parents let you watch R-rated movies with them and never tried to answer any questions they may have had. There are ratings called parental guidance where it is suggested that parents watch certain shows with their children if they are of a certain age where they may not understand. My reasoning is based on the descriptions of movie ratings.

http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means


Movie ratings are bullshit, man. All the movie theaters in my town have let me walk straight into R-rated movies alone since I was 14.

[Amnesiac]

Movie ratings are bullshit, man. All the movie theaters in my town have let me walk straight into R-rated movies alone since I was 14.

I would love to live where you are.

The theaters here are all conservative, but that didn't stop me and a friend from sneaking into The Hangover back when it was showing. Was worth it, and we didn't even get close to getting caught.

But yes, movie ratings are just another attempt to please the conservative parents, a group that will die out in a generation or two anyway.

[huginnmuninn]

Movie ratings are bullshit, man. All the movie theaters in my town have let me walk straight into R-rated movies alone since I was 14.

if you look about sixteen in my town you can watch whatever you want at the theater

[Perseus]

Not all teenagers are mature enough to handle sex. Not all of them have the capacity to make a good decision about sex. This is why there are age of consent laws. Plus, lots of teens who have had sex wish they had waited. Anyway, I feel that porn is inappropriate for teens because they do not necessarily understand everything there is about sex. When it comes to R-rated movies, I may let my own future teens watch it if I feel that they can learn something from the movie with my help. This is why I will not allow my teenagers to watch porn. Not to mention I do not want to get into legal trouble and possibly go to jail and even lose custody depending on the teenager's age Plus, certain movies are R-rated are because they contain content that most parents would not necessarily want their children to see without them watching it with them if at all.

What do you define porn? There is softcore that is not sex; how would that affect your future child? And you don't learn stuff from movies. Lol. I've seen plenty of R-rated movies and haven't learned anything. The only reason a lot of movies are rated R is because they say "fuck" more than once, there are drugs, there's intense violence, nudity, etc. I play M rated games all the time, too. I don't need my parents' right next to me while I am killing a dirty Russian in Bad Company 2.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

What do you define porn? There is softcore that is not sex; how would that affect your future child? And you don't learn stuff from movies. Lol. I've seen plenty of R-rated movies and haven't learned anything. The only reason a lot of movies are rated R is because they say "fuck" more than once, there are drugs, there's intense violence, nudity, etc. I play M rated games all the time, too. I don't need my parents' right next to me while I am killing a dirty Russian in Bad Company 2.

I consider porn to be non-simulated sexual acts whose main purpose is to arouse people sexually. One can learn from movies. Kids and Teens are very impressionable which is why parents need to make sure that they understand what they are watching and should only let their kids watch things that they consider to be age-appropriate for their children.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I would love to live where you are.

The theaters here are all conservative, but that didn't stop me and a friend from sneaking into The Hangover back when it was showing. Was worth it, and we didn't even get close to getting caught.

But yes, movie ratings are just another attempt to please the conservative parents, a group that will die out in a generation or two anyway.

Actually movie ratings can be a valuable tool in helping parents decide what is appropriate for their children. Are you saying that parents do not or should not need them. And to be clear I do not think that all R-rated movies are bad. As I mentioned before, IF I felt that a certain R-rated movie was valuable then I would watch it with them first and if they could handle it then I would let them watch it. Is there anything wrong with that. On the other hand, I consider porn to never be appropriate for my future children. If they want to learn about sex, they can talk to me about it, I can teach them far more better. They should not need porn to satisfy their curiosity.

[Perseus]

I consider porn to be non-simulated sexual acts whose main purpose is to arouse people sexually. One can learn from movies. Kids and Teens are very impressionable which is why parents need to make sure that they understand what they are watching and should only let their kids watch things that they consider to be age-appropriate for their children.

But what is so bad about being aroused sexually? Masturbation is a good way to relieve stress, and this can be done from porn. And porn can contain a child from having sex with every person he/she sees because they get a chance to release their sexual urges. And one thing that stands out is imagination. Whether or not your children can look at porn doesn't matter because they can still fantasize, etc.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

But what is so bad about being aroused sexually? Masturbation is a good way to relieve stress, and this can be done from porn. And porn can contain a child from having sex with every person he/she sees because they get a chance to release their sexual urges. And one thing that stands out is imagination. Whether or not your children can look at porn doesn't matter because they can still fantasize, etc.

Exactly, fantasizing is perfectly acceptable. If they want to look at sexual images then they should look at pictures that do not depict full nudity. I think that is a reasonable compromise.

Out of curiosity, do you look at porn? Do you parents know? Are they OK with? If they are not do you sneak and use it? If they do not know and then find out, would you listen to them, sneak and do it, or try to get your parents to change their minds?

[Perseus]

Exactly, fantasizing is perfectly acceptable. If they want to look at sexual images then they should look at pictures that do not depict full nudity. I think that is a reasonable compromise.

Out of curiosity, do you look at porn? Do you parents know? Are they OK with? If they are not do you sneak and use it? If they do not know and then find out, would you listen to them, sneak and do it, or try to get your parents to change their minds?

I do not look at porn, and I know for a fact my parents would not approve of it. And how is fantasizing better? They still see a naked person, even though it is mentally and most likely of someone who they like.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I do not look at porn, and I know for a fact my parents would not approve of it. And how is fantasizing better? They still see a naked person, even though it is mentally and most likely of someone who they like.

Its better because there is very little likelihood of it harming the child.

[Perseus]

Its better because there is very little likelihood of it harming the child.

How so? Softcore porn is just a nude pose that is meant to be sexual. How does that harm a child? When I was in second grade, maybe later, I saw my first picture of a naked person. In fourth grade, I know for a fact, I would look at soft core porn with my friend all the time because we were curious about. It did not harm me. I don't look at porn because I think it's weird to watch people have sex, but I do like softcore porn because I am interested in women, so obviously I have a desire to seem them naked.

[Sith Lord 13]

Its better because there is very little likelihood of it harming the child.

How does porn harm a child?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I was searching the Internet for awhile to find something that was not unbiased. This is the best I can do right now.

http://www.protectkids.com/effects/harms.htm

While there are many ways that pornography harms children, I want to assure you that every child who views pornography will not necessarily be affected and, at worst, traumatized in the same way. The effects of pornography are progressive and addictive for many people. Just as every person who takes a drink does not automatically become an alcoholic, every child who is exposed to pornography does not automatically become a sexual deviant or sex addict. However, since pornography has a new door to the home, school, and library through the Internet, it is important for us to look at the many ways that pornography can potentially harm our children.

Exposure to Pornography Threatens to Make Children
Victims of Sexual Violence

The Internet has proven a useful tool for pedophiles and sexual predators as they distribute child pornography, engage in sexually explicit conversations with children, and seek victims in chat rooms. The more pornography these individuals access, the higher the risk of their acting out what they see, including sexual assault, rape, and child molestation.
Pornography's Relationship to Rape and Sexual Violence
According to one study, early exposure (under fourteen years of age) to pornography is related to greater involvement in deviant sexual practice, particularly rape. Slightly more than one-third of the child molesters and rapists in this study claimed to have at least occasionally been incited to commit an offense by exposure to pornography. Among the child molesters incited, the study reported that 53 percent of them deliberately used the stimuli of pornography as they prepared to offend. i

The habitual consumption of pornography can result in a diminished satisfaction with mild forms of pornography and a correspondingly strong desire for more deviant and violent material.ii

Pornography's Relationship to Child Molestation
In a study of convicted child molesters, 77 percent of those who molested boys and 87 percent of those who molested girls admitted to the habitual use of pornography in the commission of their crimes.iii Besides stimulating the perpetrator, pornography facilitates child molestation in several ways. For example, pedophiles use pornographic photos to demonstrate to their victims what they want them to do. They also use them to arouse a child or to lower a child's inhibitions and communicate to the unsuspecting child that a particular sexual activity is okay: "This person is enjoying it; so will you."
Exposure to Pornography Frequently Results in Sexual Illnesses, Unplanned Pregnancies, and Sexual Addiction

As more and more children are exposed not only to soft-core pornography, but also to explicit deviant sexual material, they are learning an extremely dangerous message from pornographers: Sex without responsibility is acceptable and desirable. Because pornography encourages sexual expression without responsibility, it endangers children's health.

One of the grimmer consequences of adult-like sexual activity among children has been a steady increase in the extent to which youth are afflicted with venereal disease.iv In the United States about one in four sexually experienced teenagers acquires a sexually transmitted disease (STD) every year, resulting in three million cases of teenage STDs. Infectious syphilis rates have more than doubled among teenagers since the mid-1980s. More children contract sexually transmitted diseases each year than all the victims of polio in its eleven-year epidemic, 1942-1953.v

Another obvious result of children involved in adult sexual activity is the increased rate of pregnancy among teenagers.

Research has shown that "males who are exposed to a great deal of erotica before the age of 14 are more sexually active and engage in more varied sexual behaviors as adults than is true for males not so exposed."vi One study reveals that among 932 sex addicts, 90 percent of the men and 77 percent of the women reported that pornography was significant to their addiction.vii

Exposure to Pornography May Incite Children to Act Out
Sexually against Other Children

Children often imitate what they've seen, read, or heard. Studies suggest that exposure to pornography can prompt kids to act out sexually against younger, smaller, and more vulnerable children. Experts in the field of childhood sexual abuse report that any premature sexual activity in children always suggests two possible stimulants: experience and exposure. This means that the sexually deviant child may have been molested or simply exposed to sexuality through pornography.viii

In a study of six hundred American males and females of junior high school age and above, researcher Dr. Jennings Bryant found that 91 percent of the males and 82 percent of the females admitted having been exposed to X-rated, hard-core pornography. Over 66 percent of the males and 40 percent of the females reported wanting to try out some of the sexual behaviors they had witnessed. And among high schoolers, 31 percent of the males and 18 percent of the females admitted actually doing some of the things they had seen in the pornography within a few days after exposure.ix

Exposure to Pornography Shapes Attitudes and Values

Most of us caring, responsible parents want to instill in our children our own personal values about relationships, sex, intimacy, love, and marriage. Unfortunately, the powerful irresponsible messages of pornography may be educating our children on these very important life issues. Just as thirty-second commercials can influence whether or not we choose one popular soft drink over another, exposure to pornography shapes our attitudes and values and, often, our behavior.

Photographs, videos, magazines, virtual games, and Internet pornography that depict rape and the dehumanization of females in sexual scenes constitute powerful but deforming tools of sex education. The danger to children stems at least partly from the disturbing changes in attitude that are facilitated by pornography. Replicated studiesx have demonstrated that exposure to significant amounts of increasingly graphic forms of pornography has a dramatic effect on how adult consumers view women, sexual abuse, sexual relationships, and sex in general. These studies are virtually unanimous in their conclusions: When male subjects were exposed to as little as six weeks' worth of standard hard-core pornography, they:

developed an increased sexual callousness toward women

began to trivialize rape as a criminal offense or no longer considered it a crime at all

developed distorted perceptions about sexuality

developed an appetite for more deviant, bizarre, or violent types of pornography (normal sex no longer seemed to do the job)

devalued the importance of monogamy and lacked confidence in marriage as either a viable or lasting institution

viewed nonmonogamous relationships as normal and natural behaviorxi
Exposure to Pornography Interferes with a Child's
Development and Identity

During certain critical periods of childhood, a child's brain is being programmed for sexual orientation. During this period, the mind appears to be developing a "hardwire" for what the person will be aroused by or attracted to. Exposure to healthy sexual norms and attitudes during this critical period can result in the child developing a healthy sexual orientation. In contrast, if there is exposure to pornography during this period, sexual deviance may become imprinted on the child's "hard drive" and become a permanent part of his or her sexual orientation.xii
Psychologist Dr. Victor Cline's findings suggest that memories of experiences that occurred at times of emotional arousal (which could include sexual arousal) are imprinted on the brain by epinephrine, an adrenal gland hormone, and are difficult to erase. (This may partly explain pornography's addicting effect.) Viewing pornography can potentially condition some viewers to have recurring sexual fantasies during which they masturbate. Later they may be tempted to act out the fantasies as sexual advances.

Sexual identity develops gradually through childhood and adolescence. In fact, children generally do not have a natural sexual capacity until between the ages of ten and twelve. As they grow up, children are especially susceptible to influences affecting their development. Information about sex in most homes and schools, comes, presumably, in age-appropriate incremental stages based on what parents, educators, physicians, and social scientists have learned about child development. But pornography short-circuits and/or distorts the normal personality development process and supplies misinformation about a child's sexuality, sense of self, and body that leaves the child confused, changed, and damaged.xiii

Pornography often introduces children prematurely to sexual sensations that they are developmentally unprepared to contend with. This awareness of sexual sensation can be confusing and overstimulating for children.

The sexual excitement and eventual release obtained through pornography are mood altering. For example, if a young boy's early stimulus was pornographic photographs, he can be conditioned to become aroused through photographs. Once this pairing is rewarded a number of times, it is likely to become permanent. xiv The result is that it becomes difficult for the individual to experience sexual satisfaction apart from pornographic images.

Most of us find it difficult to talk to our children about sex in general, let alone the harmful effects of pornography, as graphically described in this chapter. We want to protect the innocence and purity of childhood for as long as possible.

i W. L. Marshall, "The Use of Sexually Explicit Stimuli by Rapists, Child Molesters, and Nonoffenders," The Journal of Sex Research 25, no.2 (May 1988): 267-88.
ii See H.J. Eysenck, "Robustness of Experimental Support for the General Theory of Desensitization," in Neil M. Malamuth and Edward Donnerstein, eds., Pornography and Sexual Aggression (Orlando, Florida: Academic Press, 1984), 314. D. Zillmann, "Effects of Prolonged Consumption of Pornography," in Pornography: Research Advances and Policy Considerations, eds. D. Zillman and J. Bryant (Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1989), 129.

iii Take Action Manual (Washington, D.C.: Enough is Enough, 1995-96), 9.

iv Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood (New York: Vintage, 1994), 137.

v Tom Minnery, Pornography: A Human Tragedy (Wheaton: Tyndale House).

vi K.E. Davis and G.N. Braucht, Exposure to Pornography, Character and Sexual Deviance, Technical Reports of the Commission on Obscenity and Pornography (1970), 7.

vii Patrick Carnes, Don't Call It Love: Recovery from Sexual Addictions (New York: Bantam, 1991).

viii Stephen J. Kavanagh, Protecting Children in Cyberspace (Springfield, VA: Behavioral Psychotherapy Center, 1997), 58-59.

ix Victor B. Cline, Pornography's Effects on Adults and Children (New York: Morality in Media, 1990), 11.

x Edward Donnerstein, "Ordinances to Add Pornography to Discrimination against Women," statement at Public Hearing of Minneapolis City Council Session (12 December 1983). See also Luis T. Garcia, "Exposure to Pornography and Attitudes about Women and Rape: A Correlative Study," AG 22 (1986), 382-83. This study found "subjects with a greater degree of exposure to violent sexual materials tended to believe that: (a) women are responsible for preventing their own rape, (b) rapists should not be severely punished, and (c) women should not resist a rape attack. In addition, researchers found that exposure to violent sexual material correlated significantly with the belief that rapists are normal. See also Zillman, "Effects of Prolonged Consumption," 129; and N. Malamuth and J. Ceniti, 129-37. "Study…results consistently showed a relationship between one's reported likelihood to rape and responses associated with convicted rapists such as sexual arousal to rape stimuli, callous attitudes toward rape, beliefs in the rape myths, and hostility towards women."

xi Cline, Pornography's Effects, 8.

xii Kavanagh, Protecting Children in Cyberspace, 58-59.

xiii Interview with Ann Burgess, professor of nursing, University of Pennsylvania, 15 January 1997. "Pornography - Victims and Perpetrators," Symposium on Media Violence & Pornography, Proceedings Resource Book and Research Guide, ed. D. Scott (1984).

xiv Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. , "The Influence of Pornography on Sexual Development: Three Case Histories," Family Therapy IX, no. 3 (1982): 265.