Some facts (and emotion) about teen pornography--and by the way, for those who assume we're talking about boys, it's a fact that girls have been looking at it more, so don't exclude them from your thinking. Also, most of these data was before the pandemic, so the increased time kids spend at home would make the data even worse. Most of this data comes from fairly reliable sources, and in context I did not note a tendency to exaggerate to make some agenda or sell something.
- 93 % of boys and 62% of girls are exposed to internet pornography before the age of 18. Some of it was a flashing view, followed by guilt and shutting it down. But the image is often retained in the mind, so they may seek for it later.
- 70% of boys (under 18) have spent at least 30 consecutive minutes looking at on-line porn on at least one occasion.
- 35% of boys have done this on at least ten occasions.
- 67% of children admit to clearing their internet history to hide their online activity (that's not necessarily porn).
- 79% of accidental exposures to internet porn among kids take place in the home.
- On a different note, 56% of divorce cases involve one party having an obsessive interest in online porn. The reason I mention it is because divorce has a huge effect on children, no matter what age.
- 12% of websites on the internet are pornographic—they own approximately 25 million websites!
- Only 3% of pornographic websites require age verification.
- The most popular day of the week for viewing pornography is Sunday.
- The average age a child first sees internet pornography is 11. That one is hard to believe, even if it were accidental.
Bevill Associates Forensic Counselors, after surveys, say:
Using data from the Youth Internet Safety Survey, a nationally representative, cross-sectional telephone survey of 1501 children and adolescents (ages 10-17 years), characteristics associated with self-reported pornography seeking behavior, both on the Internet and using traditional methods (e.g., magazines), are: Only 5% of self-identified seekers being female. The vast majority (87%) of youth who report looking for sexual images online are 14 years of age or older.
It’s projected that virtual reality (VR) porn, which vastly increases pleasure, because "she's right here," should be a $1 billion business by the year 2025. That’s third behind an expected $1.4 billion virtual reality video game market (a first step for online gambling, for many) and $1.23 billion VR NFL-related content.
There was a disconnect between parents’ perceptions of their children’s pornography viewing practices and the reality: 75% of parents felt their child would not have seen pornography online, but of those children, 53% said they had in fact seen pornography. Parents, don't assume that your child is Christian and therefore too righteous for this.
Of the children who admitted to intentionally searching for pornography (n=276), nearly two-thirds of them (63%) said they had done so, for one or more of the four reasons: (1) Ideas for new things to try sexually (2) Learning about sex generally (3) Learning how to get better at sex (4) Learning what people expect from me sexually. They learn falsely, since much of it degrades and oppresses females, and the so-called actresses pretend to enjoy the roughness. As a result, boys' expectations from what girls are willing to do for sex may definitely run too high. Girls in particular mentioned using pornography to learn how to meet boys’ “expectations.” May God help us.
Overall, 41% of all children who were aware of pornography agreed that “watching porn makes people less respectful of the opposite sex.” Actually, that's too low of a number. That means lots of boys will objectify females, which starts a slide into sociopathic behavior in many cases. Rape will become more common.
Given that 63% of children aged 11 to 13 who had seen pornography said their first exposure had been unintentional, age-verification is likely to have a significant impact here--if our government would actually enforce laws against obscenity. If they would pay attention to the corrosion against society from perverseness and criminality that arises from addiction, the government could shut most of this down, very easily. Parents need to use this data and others, and raise their voices to members of Congress. 83% of parents agreed with the statement “there should be robust age-verification controls in place to stop children (under-18s) seeing commercial pornography online.” But let's see those 83% do something about it. Source: Report on People, Pornography & Age Verification (bbfc, January 2020)
- A study analyzing videos from Pornhub and Xvideos found that 97 percent of the targets of violence and/or aggression were women. (We're not just talking bondage here. Unfortunately, I can't describe these things.) This was found in Archives of Sexual Behavior, A Descriptive Analysis of the Types, Targets, and Relative Frequency of Aggression in Mainstream Pornography July 13, 2020)
- According to a survey by the research company Savanta ComRes last year, 38% of women under the age of 40 have experienced unwanted slapping, choking, gagging or spitting during consensual intercourse. Deepfake pornography (another woman in place of the original "actress") accounts for a significant majority (96%) of deepfake videos online. (Deeptrace, 2019).
80% of Pornhub’s worldwide visits are now coming from smartphones and tablets. (Source: PornHub website, 2019)
Some additional readings for you that don't all directly involve teens, which you might file under "possible future behaviors." Oh, yes, when they don't seem to give you the source, just click on the underlined blue to get it:
- The Porn Epidemic: Facts, Stats and Solutions (Josh D. McDowell, 2018)
- More than four in 10 Americans (43%) now say pornography is morally acceptable, a seven-percentage-point increase from last year. (Gallup, June 2018)
- One researcher called children’s unlimited access to extreme and graphic internet pornography, “the largest unregulated social experiment in history.”
- Researchers at the University of Massachusetts at Boston performed a Google trend analysis showing searches for “teen porn” more than tripled between 2005-2013. Americans are becoming more and more attracted to pornography depicting sex with underage persons and this growing exposure to increasingly deviant porn is driving more criminals toward victimizing more teenagers.
- Free access means porn use has skyrocketed.
- Here's a website that reports people are suing Mindgeek's X sites. (There are no offensive views on this article--I suggest, though, viewing it in an incognito window). Unfortunately, the lawsuit is only because they audaciously sent people non-consensual videos depicting rape and child abuse. Unfortunately, because of the limited area of lawsuits, that still means depicting violence among adults, where they pretend to enjoy it, is still OK. The site: https://www.techspot.com/news/90312-porn-site-xtube-shutting-down-wake-lawsuit-against.html
- The use of filters by parents has not worked. It's easy to get around them, as I have unfortunately proven as well. Parents need help from laws and enforcement and fines to the sources of this evil. Harmful Effects of Pornography: 2016 Reference Guide, (Fightthenewdrug.org, 2016)
- (January 2016) "Falling In Love With Screens: The science behind how double-clicking for sex rewires our brains—and affects us all".
- Those who frequently consume Internet pornography are less likely to marry because they see pornography as a sexual gratification substitute. No judgement: takes away from the bother and the anxiety. Many of the young men have had terrible experiences while dating in the past. Malcolm, M. & Naufal, G. (2014) “Are Pornography and Marriage Substitutes for Young Men?” Institute for the Study of Labor.
- There is a positive correlation between hours of pornography consumed and higher narcissism levels. Additionally, those who have ever used pornography had higher levels of all three measures of narcissism than those who have never viewed Internet pornography. Kaspera, T., Shorta, M. & Milam, A. (2014) “Narcissism and Internet Pornography Use.” Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. Vol. 41 (5)
- Extramarital sex is one of the most commonly cited reasons for divorce, and Pornography consumption is correlated with positive attitudes towards extramarital affairs. Wright, P., Tokunaga, R. & Bae, S. (2014) “More Than a Dalliance? Pornography Consumption and Extramarital Sex Attitudes Amoung Married U.S. Adults.” Psychology of Popular Media Culture.
- The United States is the largest producer and exporter of hardcore pornographic DVDs and web material. http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html#important_countries(accessed June 6, 2014). Pornographic web pages by country are U. S. 244,661,900(89%) and Germany 10,030,200 (4%)
Where previous generations were cautious of a stolen Playboy magazine, current parents are looking for guidance on how to shield their teens from the ever available, internet pornography. Consider the amount of hours teenagers spend on screens for entertainment--we're talking 9 hours a day according to a report from Common Sense Media. Parents got the short end of teens' attention. They often would never seek a parent for advice. Parents, you need to get out of this broken-down cultural "standard."
A study conducted by JAMA Psychiatry looked at the connection between compulsive viewing of online pornography and brain changes. Their results indicated alarming similarities between individuals who view online pornography for hours each week and individuals addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Mothers and fathers of teens: I have one question--Is there a way that your child is one of these problems? Most parents don't really know; their teens are fiercely guarding their "privacy." In many cases, it's privacy so they can sin.
I have a harder question: If both you and your spouse are working in the same daytime period, is it worth sacrificing what this might be doing to your child, just so you can obtain extra money, so you can buy "toys" (bigger house, nicer car) you love and covet? What I'm saying is, one of you needs to quit the job to guide the teen away from sin and form a permanent bond, to let the child know you care. You do want your child to live a Scriptural and pure life? Then you should be willing to sacrifice your quest for the "good life." The teen will pick up on this moral courage and asceticism, and respect you, and learn to sacrifice where necessary when he/she becomes an adult. (They're less likely to shove you off to assisted living when you're older--long range benefits!)
Let's face it: Teens lie. In America today, they live for their impulses. I'm saying, after you sacrificially quit that job, when you're around at home, let your movements be unpredictable--don't be afraid to snoop. (Of course, psychologists today suggest that that's not a good idea, it "destroys trust," and you're stating a negative about the child's personality. Bologna. Psychologists have caved in to the naive belief that "it's just adolescence, it's just a part of growing up," etc ad nauseum. Read the data above again, before you cave to your teen. Harden them to self-discipline and restraint. Remember, your job is not to be their friend. If you plan on going out for awhile, your teenager might want you to cite a specific time of your return. Be vague. He or she may have something sexual in mind. Surprise them by only being gone for 45 minutes or so. If you find them in a compromised state, drive for their true confession and repentance. Remind them of that from time to time later. Put the name of God out there.
Then there's the possibility of teens having sex while both parents are at work. I suspect this is happening a lot, looking at the spiraling statistics of people getting married later and later. (The pandemic probably made this a bigger problem.) By the way, facts say that fewer teens are getting pregnant. Don't assume they're more pure. Given the outrageous music and suggestive clothing, it's more likely that they have simply gotten easier access to birth control pills. Teens (and parents, sometimes) don't seem to care about what the Bible says about sex with anyone outside marriage. God's Word is blunt: hell for those who violate this commandment GalatIans 5:19-21 says:
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So fornication, which is so widespread in TV and movies (streamed or otherwise), has suckered many Christians to believe that it's not so important anymore. But note in the verses above that fornication, in God's judgment, ranks up there with murder and idolatry. Think about that. TV and movies are our culture now and in the future. They reach their dirty fingers in our thinking and radicalize it more than we know.
Now if your porn-loving teen has a conscience, they may repent, momentarily, but for most it is repentance light, since most don't take serious-enough steps to stop completely their growing addiction to sex or pornography. (By the way, assuming that "relief" (if you know what I mean) by watching porn will decrease the desire for sex has been proven wrong by lots of studies.)
Many teens will view porn more when they're depressed or isolated. (Like all addictions do). Watch for the teens' state of mind when they only occasionally--hopefully--reach this state. Praying with them (yes, with them) will help more than you know.
There are also lots of studies that show seriously negative effects on married life from previous porn addiction. The excuse that couples give for living together before marriage (which is becoming a new norm), is "we have to know whether we are compatible sexually." But studies show that living together before marriage leads to more divorces than not doing it! Again, statistics reveal the truth in God's laws, and again psychologists are wrong--but that doesn't change their minds. God will make us pay for breaking His laws. Also, these couples are hardening their hearts against God, and salvation will be much harder. That means many of them are still on the way to hell.
Jesus said thinking about a woman for adultery is adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). And if you, in your crooked mind, imagine scenarios of "hooking up" with a co-worker or whoever, but don't actually do it, do you think that you get off scot-free? No, it means you're not paying attention about Jesus' commands that evil thought is sin too. He says to hate someone--and you haven't done anything to them--can send you to hell, too! Read I John 2:9:
He who says he is in the light (i.e., following Jesus) and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
"In darkness" can only be interpreted as bound for hell, unless there is sincere repentance.
Parents, beware! You are responsible for your children. If one of you is afraid of quitting that job, that I've been harping on, hoping to get more worldly pleasures and things, don't be surprised if the teen can catch the drift and take on the ways of the world as well. Scripture says, those who love the world and it's pleasures, cannot go to heaven I John 2:15:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
IF you believe Scripture is really God's Word to mankind, and considering the way the culture puts pressure on teens, then you will make necessary sacrifices to keep your kids off these paths that lead to hell.
Remember, Scripture advises us to fear God, who will judge you for making decisions (or not making decisions) that put your child on the wrong path. Here are some more simple rules for the Prophet Parent: don't let your child put a lock on his/her bedroom door, and don't be afraid to enter unannounced. On occasion, check the room contents. Here's the best--and scariest--idea of all: Get rid of the phones! The possibility of their watching mobile sex, and the isolation from normal social relationships, should be motivation enough. Then there is the extra time they could have--they could be doing something constructive--should give you courage to do that. There is plenty of proof that teens' ability to focus, to do critical thinking, and to handle themselves in society have both gone downhill fast. Remember, the more your child screams against these invasions from you as Prophet Parent, the more likely they are deeply doing sinful things, or things that will pervert their normal social relationships.
In an interesting study, researchers found a sudden increase in teens' suicide risk factors and suicide rates in 2012 — around the time when smartphones became popular, says Jean Twenge, one of the authors of the study.
Twenge's research found that teens who spend five or more hours per day on their devices are 71 percent more likely to have one risk factor for suicide. And that's regardless of the content consumed. Whether teens are watching cat videos or looking at something more serious, the amount of screen time — not the specific content — goes hand in hand with the higher instances of depression.
Covid has more than likely increased children screen time, making all these factors worse. Actual data for 2020-2021 to prove or disprove this idea are impossible, since data for those years haven't been released.
Parents, pray about this! In the old days, I, as a parent of children, didn't want to be "square." But the way things are going, parents need to purify themselves, be truly Christian, and be a model for teens
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