How much porn is
there?
According to
Wendy and Larry Maltz, co-authors of The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide To Overcoming
Problems Caused by Pornography, there are more than 400 million pages
of pornography on the Internet. According to Dr. Patrick Carnes, one of the
world's leading experts in the area of online sexual behavior, commercial
pornography websites, magazines, books, DVDs, and cable television generate
almost $320 billion annually worldwide. To put this in some perspective, in the
United States alone, pornography revenues are larger than all the combined
revenues from professional football, baseball, and basketball.
Dr. Carnes
also reports that an estimated 72 million individuals visit pornography
websites each year. Approximately twenty five percent of all search engine
requests are pornography related. Ten percent of adult Internet users believe
they are “cybersex” (online) addicts. Twenty percent of adults in the USA
report having intentionally visited pornographic websites. Did you know that thirty percent of
visitors to adult pornography sites are women?
The average
age of first exposure to online pornography is 11 years old and seventy percent of teenagers report they have seen
pornographic images online.
Does cyber porn come
with instructions?
With dozens
of search engines you can surf for an endless variety of sexual activities and
sexual images. One word can bring up 250,000 different “hits” that contain
pornographic photographs, videos, chat rooms, live WebCams, and advertisements
for sexual products. Some of these websites display images of nude or nearly
nude adults engaging in sexual activity. Some of these websites display sexual
activity that includes animals, children, violence, and other sexual behavior
that is frightening and confusing. One of the dangers of cyber porn is you
really cannot control what type of image or video will “pop up.”
So, despite
the amazing growth in Internet pornography, and the growth in technologies that
make Internet pornography very accessible to all (such as laptops and mobile
devices), Internet porn does not come with a set of instructions, a list of
ingredients, or any type of warning about it’s possible danger.
So, why doesn’t cyber
porn come with guidelines? Well, the porn industry doesn’t want guidelines
or regulations, because they want to sell porn to anyone who can pay for their
product – including teens. The porn industry wants as many customers as is
possible, and there is really no better target audience than teens – as they
can develop a life-long attachment to porn use.
Why doesn’t “sex ed”
programs talk about cyber porn and cyber sex?
The fact is
adults have not focused on the potential dangers of cyber porn in “sex ed”
programs because of the attention given to cyber bullying and cyber predators.
Certainly, the most common and high profile fears related to Internet use
include online “harassment” or cyber bullying and exposure to adult “cyber
predators” (child molesters). Despite the high profile nature of sexual
predators, including television shows focusing on predatory adults, research
studies from Harvard do not show an increase in overall predatory behavior as a
result of the increase in internet use by young people.
The popular
picture of a predator as an older male who preys on children is not supported
by scientific findings. Most sexual solicitation of children and
teens is by other minors and young adults. According to the Harvard researchers
most Internet sex crimes against minors actually involve young adults and
minors who mistakenly believe they are able to consent to sex with an adult.
According to
the Harvard researchers, reported cases of Internet initiated sex crimes
involving adult strangers are much less common than crimes initiated by family
or other familiar adults. What is surprising, but supported by research, is
only a small percentage of youth are deceived by adult offenders lying about
their age. In fact, cyber stalking by adult offenders appears to be quite rare.
This
does NOT mean you should talk to strangers online or EVER arrange a meeting
with a stranger from cyberspace.
As for “sex
ed” programs, it appears that the availability and quantity of cyber porn has
gotten way out in front of educators, schools, and parents in terms of developing
an open, honest and informed discussion about the possible benefits and dangers
of cyber porn. Adults simply haven’t figured out how to approach the topic of cyber
porn – so teens are figuring it out on their own!
Given this
the absence of clear and reliable information for teens about cyber porn, I
have put together this manual.
Is any amount of
cyber porn healthy?
Let’s start
with the most basic question: what amount and what type of pornography is
appropriate or safe? Is all pornography unhealthy? Are there websites
that are educational and provide good information while using sexually graphic
images?
Certainly not
all online sexual activity has a negative impact on teens or adults. A recent
study estimated nearly eighty percent of those who engage in online sexual
activity should be considered "recreational users" and do not report
any problems related to their online behavior. Both youth and adults report
using the Internet to research sexual information on issues such as preventing
the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, purchasing and reviewing options
for contraception, and exploring sexuality. Cyberspace allows teens and adults
to explore sexual fantasies, explore sexual preferences, and learn about different
forms of sexual expression in a safe and secure home environment.
However, for
the approximate 20% of individuals who struggle with online sexual behavior, the
consequences can be devastating and long-lasting. As I will discuss in
greater detail, some people become compulsive in collecting and viewing
pornography, others cross legal boundaries, while others find themselves
spending 10+ hours each day online in search of sex or romance.
So, to my
way of thinking, although cyber porn may be fun and exciting for some teens
(and adults) and pose no emotional or physical health risks, the down side far
outweighs the up side. After having worked with teens and adults with cyber
porn problems, I think the risk is too great and therefore the best approach to
cyber porn is to take a pass. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard
teens and adults say: “I just wish someone had told me how easy it
is to get out of control with cyber porn.”
My position
is not about whether cyber porn is good or bad or right or wrong from a moral
perspective or a religious perspective. Simply put, I think porn has the great
potential damage your emotional, sexual, physical and social well-being. I am
certain no one will ever regret NOT using porn – they will only regret
being exposed to and using porn and losing control of their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment