Online Exposure to Adult Porn Adversely Affects Children's Sexual Behavior: Report

LifeSiteNews ^ | NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2009

[GonzoII]

Wednesday January 13, 2010

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Online Exposure to Adult Porn Adversely Affects Children's Sexual Behavior: Report

NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Morality in Media (MIM) has published a 10-page paper reporting evidence that exposure to hardcore adult pornography on the Internet can adversely affect children's sexual behavior and attitudes about sex. The evidence includes published observations of clinical psychologists, police and prosecutors, educators, rape crisis professionals, social workers and others, as well as social science research.

The paper is the second MIM publication in recent months exposing the connection between adult pornography and harm to children. The paper is a complement to "How Adult Pornography Contributes to Sexual Exploitation of Children," a 215-page report published in September 2009. Both the paper and report are posted at www.obscenitycrimes.org ("Porn Problem & Solutions" and "Help for Parents" pages).

The January paper, "Harm to Children from Online Exposure to Hardcore Adult Pornography," asserts that when it comes to the Internet in the United States there are "at present NO legal safeguards to protect children from exposure to pornography, and in large measure we can thank the Supreme Court itself for this tragic state of affairs."

The paper points out that "in 1997, the Supreme Court invalidated a law intended to restrict children's online access to content that is 'indecent.' In 2009, the Court also refused to review a lower court decision which had invalidated a law intended to restrict children's online access to sexual content that is 'harmful to minors.'"

The MIM report highlights the irony that while child would be requested to leave an ‘adult bookstore,’ “if that same child were to 'click' to most commercial websites that distribute adult pornography, he could view hardcore adult pornography free of charge and without restriction, because when it comes to cyberspace, the courts think parental use of filters is an adequate solution to the problem."

Morality in Media doesn’t fault only the courts however. “Congress, the U.S. Justice Department and FBI also share responsibility,” they write. “Under the Bush administration there were successful prosecutions against online commercial distributors of hardcore adult pornography, proving that obscenity laws can be enforced. But these prosecutions were too few and far between to effectively deter online distribution of hardcore adult pornography.”

According to the report, “Since the 2008 presidential election, the Justice Department (including the FBI) has not initiated any new adult obscenity cases. Furthermore, Congress hasn't uttered a peep about the lack of enforcement."

"What then are the consequences of our nation's failure to protect children from online exposure to hardcore adult pornography?" asks the MIM report. "Common sense should inform us that when children are exposed to graphic depictions of adultery, bestiality, bondage, excretory activities, group sex, incest, prostitution, pseudo child porn, rape, sexual murders, teen sex, torture, and unsafe sex galore, their attitudes about sex, their sexual desires and their sexual behavior can be influenced for the worst. The evidence compiled in this paper supports that assessment."

The January paper concludes:

"It has been said that exposing children to hardcore adult pornography is a form of child abuse. There is truth in that...Those responsible for this abuse include Internet pornographers that allow children to view hardcore adult pornography free of charge and without proof of age. Those responsible also include prosecutors and law enforcement agents who have turned a blind eye to the proliferation of obscene materials on the Internet, and Congress for failing to hold the Justice Department and FBI accountable for their failure to vigorously enforce federal Internet obscenity laws."

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jan/10011303.html

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[GonzoII]

Morality in Media Report: Harm to Children from Online Exposure to Hardcore Adult Pornography

[marstegreg]

Of course they do...if there’s one thing I know, it’s that children mimick. As a parent, I don’t trust the internet. I have set up the only internet accessible computer right smack in the middle of the kitchen. I tell my kids, If you are worried about me seeing something you are looking at, then you shouldn’t be looking at it! They are O.K. with it.
Parents really need to be heads up in todays world.

[Vaquero]

Monitor your kids internet and TV use....keep an eye on them. I did with my kids till they became college age adults...

the first amendment requires you to be cognisant of things...if one wants a nannystate one need to be at DU or KOS.

[AmericaUnite]

We found out too late our son had seen porn. Right in the living room computer, by just clicking on an ad that said, "Do you want to know more?"

It took some time to find the right software package that they cannot get around, that blocks sites as you set filters and that logs them off as you prescribe the amount of time and days they can use the computer.

Since doing HW on the computer is a necessity as well, until we got this software, we had many fights over the computer time. The one we found best is KidWatch. I believe he was definitely corrupted by seeing the sex he did. He was only 12. We thought we had time.

My son was 16 when he took his life 12-19-09.

[onedoug]

Ten pages, eh?

[I cannot think of a name]

What a revelation - not!

Next thing you know, someone will discover that kids are affected by the content of ads, by the cr@p they see on MTV, by the propaganda the liberal school system dishes out.

It's almost as though kids “learn” from their surroundings and their influences. Thank goodness we have these scientific breakthroughs to inform us of such things.

I wonder if this could anything to do with the NEA and other liberal groups wanting control over schools? Wonder if that could be why there are so many groups pushing for the teaching of “tolerance” in schools?

[Abathar]

A friend of my wife just got a divorce last year, and in her bitterness confessed to her just how bad it can be in an adult relationship, not just to kids who are even more susceptible to it.

She knew her husband was watching porn on line and complained about it, but it got worse and worse. I won’t get into the details she told my wife, but he started thinking that what normal people would be disgusted by as just a normal healthy relationship.

From what I have found out porn now is nothing like the stuff made back in the ‘70’s or ‘80’s, they keep pushing boundaries of the extreme. Young kids watching that filth, both girls and boys, will believe that what is shown is what everyone is doing and will be desensitized after a while. It’s a big problem, and most parents who can’t be bothered to cook a meal for their kids sure as heck can’t be bothered to use filters on the internet either.

[Daisyjane69]

My eyes are in tears, typing this to you. Less than a month after your loss, and you’re trying to selflessly warn others. Your son had to have been a good kid; those are just the kinds of kids who are jolted by such things. The children brought up by dirtbags and are used to those circumstances are rarely fazed by this stuff. He was from a good family and had no idea how to handle such perversion. I am deeply sorry for you and your family.

[CatQuilt]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I will pray for your son every day. People don’t understand how bad it is out there. I didn’t *really* understand either till my daughter started dating a nice young man. His parents were very involved in his life and they had good household rules, a 10 pm curfew, no MTV, etc. Unfortunately, this young man got addicted to porn. He wanted to do ‘stuff’ with my daughter, unhealthy stuff. Thankfully she said no and they broke up about a month later. I’m still shaken by the situation. His parents seemed to do everything right and he still went done a bad path.

[heartwood]

I am so sorry.

[Vaquero]

even after having my sister die when she was 8 and I was 10, and seeing the grief my parents went through (not to mention my own). I still cant imagine the pain you must be going through....My heartfelt sympathies.

[AmericaUnite]

Thank you. We had a very rough year with his rebelliousness. We were in programs for his weekend binge drinking. He always had trouble making friends. He was gorgeous and got called gay a lot. He developed a tough exterior this year especially.

He had girlfriends but really didn't know how to treat them. I blame that on the porn he saw. He never mistreated them. It's just porn is no relationship. Porn for a teen fuels their already hormone peaked desires, yet most are too immature to act responsibly.

On that blizzard night, his ex-girlfriend kissed his friend in front of him. He had 5-6 beers before. Then he walked to town and jumped in front of a train.

I am not one for seeing visions. But, on the day of the second wake, he stood ten feet from me as I was at the washing machine. Just like he might do if he wanted something from me. But, this time he had no shirt on. He said, "Mom, I'm sorry." I burst out crying and said, "And so am I." I feel he got permission to tell me that.

God Bless FreeRepublic. We are joining The Compassionate Friends. http://www.compassionatefriends.org/home.aspx

[TChris]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Many FReepers will question or even mock the idea that pornography can cause serious problems in our children, but I personally declare that it is true.

Exposing minors to pornography does very real, profound damage to them. Sometimes, the consequences of that damage can be utterly devastating to their lives.

May God bless you.

[gathersnomoss]

Prayers to you. Your son is fine. You are a good mom.

[AmericaUnite]

Thank you and God Bless. He still needs our prayers. As the video shows on Compassionate Friends web site there was one mom who said her daughter died 18 years ago and she remembers her life more than her death. Her grandson died at the age of 2 and she sees that hole in the family more.

I feel it the most, when he should be in his bed, when I should be getting him off to school, at a store where I would think, "James eats this." on and on. The only time I don't expect him is during school hours.

So many kids miss him in school that they had to have counselors for 2 days. They started a Rest in Peace Facebook page. So many have said that he saved their life because they were going to run away or kill themselves and he would stop them.

We have put the word out to the kids and the local paper that James made a choice under the influence of alcohol. And that you remove your impulse control when you drink. Many said they will no longer drink or take marijuana. Some are addicted to my son's image as a confirmed binge drinker and will continue to think his parents are just crazy.

James now knows the truth.

[AmericaUnite]

Your son is fine.

Thank you and God Bless you.

[AmericaUnite]

Thank you and God Bless you as well.

I don't mean to push one product over another, but KidsWatch worked and many others didn't. With other programs you only knew by looking at the history that they had gone around it. Then, you don't allow them on the computer until you are next to them. They feel more rebellious because you interfere.

MySpace was one site that gets around porn filters. That is one dirty place. So just block MySpace and make them use Facebook.

[AmericaUnite]

God Bless you. We have another son. He is 17 and is very different from James. He makes friends easily. But, he is no good time Charlie. I've been telling him there's a little Monk in him. Having our other son is a great comfort. I'm sure you were to your parents as well. How that changes the course of our lives, we trust in God's guidance. God has shown Himself to us in so many compassionate people who have comforted us.

My other son will come to Compassionate Friends with us at some point. The local group we are joining is for 18 and up. Meanwhile, the school psychologist, counselors and teachers have been great to him.

[TChris]

Another good one, recommended to me by a fellow IT professional, is K9 Web Protection

He tells me that it's the only one he could not manage to circumvent anonymously.

Bonus: It's free.

[christianhomeschoolmommaof3]

So sorry to hear about your loss! Prayers for your family.