Should parents be concerned when they discover their children are viewing porn sites or watching X-rated “home movies” or live footage being broadcast via a webcam? Of course they should and most would be! Children are not developmentally ready for sexually explicit material.
The Internet is as accessible in our homes as the refrigerator and children use it for homework, games and connecting with friends. It is so accessible we sometimes forget that sex is the number one commodity online. Children often stumble onto pornographic material because key words they may use lead directly to porn sites. Children are naturally curious about sexuality and pornoprenuers are exploiting their curiosity by aggressively marketing sex online.
The February, 2007 issue of Pediatrics magazine highlights youth exposure to online pornography as an issue of public health and preventive medicine. The authors reported that rates of unwanted exposure to sexual material among youth increased from 25% to 34% between 1999 and 2006 despite similar increases in the use of protective filtering software (up from 35% to 55% over that period).
Early exposure to illicit sexual material can distort sexual and social development. For example, online pornography may teach youth to view others simply as sexual objects and blunt their ability to develop healthy social skills in face to face interaction. Because their brains are still developing rapidly, premature exposure to explicit sexual material may put youth at higher risk for the development of sex addiction just as early exposure to drugs and alcohol predisposes them to substance abuse problems. Children exposed to pornographic material can also be harassed or exploited on line.
The healthy development of children requires nurturance and security in the family and protection from harm in the community and in cyberspace. Many parents are becoming more aware of the hazards and taking steps to protect their children. In another article we will discuss guidelines for parents and caregivers.
Sex Addiction Overview
