Porn's Impact on Kids

No matter where you fall on this issue of pornography, we think we can all agree on this one thing. Porn has a negative impact on children. And for those whack jobs that think porn is a healthy thing for kids to consume, please keep reading. From the most liberal to the most conservative, from the church to the porn industry itself, nobody wants porn in the hands of children. Why? Because it clearly has a negative impact on them. A host of studies, from researchers on both sides of the causal debate, believe that a modest to strong correlation exists between exposure to pornography and unhealthy sexual behavior and attitudes.

Child-centered studies show that children are affected at least as much as adults are when it comes to exposure to porn. One researcher who argues that pornography harms children puts it this way, "A child's sexual development occurs gradually through childhood. Exposure to pornography shapes children's sexual perspective by providing them information on sexual activity. However, the type of information provided by pornography does not provide children with a normal sexual perspective." You see pornography is not reality. It is fantasy. But kids have a difficult time distinguishing between the two.

"To children, pornography is instructional in that it provides a visual message about new information. However, that information is not an accurate portrayal of human sexuality. Photographs, videos, magazines, and virtual games which portray rape and the dehumanization of females in sexual scenes are powerful forms of sex education. Unlike learning provided in an educational setting, exposure to pornography is counterproductive to the goal of healthy and appropriate sexual development in children. It teaches without supervision or guidance, inundating children's minds with graphic messages about their bodies, their own sexuality, and those of adults and children around them."

And here are few more disturbing facts to consider.

A 1995 study found that violent pornography can reinforce aggressive behavior and negative attitudes toward women. Most Internet porn is not Playboy bunnies in beautifully airbrushed poses. It’s hard core baby! And it’s often depicting aggressive behavior towards women including choking and other violent actions. You can find some of the most over the top stuff on the Internet. It would probably blow your mind and even shock the most well informed adults. And it’s sad to say, but this is the garbage that kids are being exposed to.

Another study of teenagers found that sixy-six percent of the males and forty percent of the females reported wanting to try out some of the behaviors they had witnessed while viewing hard core porn. Thirty-one percent of males and eighteen percent of the females admitted doing some of the things sexually they had seen in the pornography within a few days after exposure. Wow! A little shocking isn’t it. But it makes sense. Kids are curious creatures learning about life and are prone to experiment.

Or how about this study that found, "Exposure to sexually stimulating materials may elicit aggressive behavior in youth who are predisposed to aggression. Sexually violent and degrading material elicits greater rates of aggression and may negatively affect male attitudes toward women." Three separate studies demonstrate that exposure to violent pornography may increase males' aggression toward women.

Now you could easily try and dismiss these findings and say that they are just overreacting. Or you may justify somehow in your mind that your kid isn’t looking at this type of porn. If they are looking at porn it’s the softer side of porn or what you may consider more “normal” porn. Boobs and naked people or the kind of porno that you use to look at when you were young. This type of attitude is dangerous because your children are living in a new day and age. The Internet and access to technology has raised the stakes and your children are at risk.