The internet is a treasure trove of information which is literally at our fingertips. All it takes is a click or tap. However, not all online content is helpful. One of the worries parents face when their children start using the internet is the viewing of inappropriate content, especially porn.
But what is porn, how does it affect our children, and what can parents do about it? TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW) sheds light on this taboo topic.
Pornography refers to visual material that commonly portrays individuals in the nude and/or engaging in sexual behaviour. It is designed with the intention to stimulate sexual excitement/pleasure.
Porn addiction is becoming a growing concern in teenagers due to the accessibility of sexually explicit material on the internet.
According to the American Addiction Centre, nine out of 10 boys and six out of 10 girls are exposed to porn before the age of 18. On average, a male’s first exposure to porn is at age 12.1 A 2018 Channel NewsAsia report also revealed a significant increase in the number of help-seekers below age 25 for sex and porn addiction in Singapore.
How does it all start?
Most children are first exposed to porn due to peer influence (friends showing them pornographic materials), random pop-up ads online, and inappropriate content in movies. It is easy to get hooked on porn as it taps into a very basic instinctual drive – sex. When watching porn, the chemical dopamine is released from the brain and makes the viewer feel good or even a high. However, it doesn’t just stop there. Upon release of dopamine, the brain begins to build stronger cravings to repeat the experience which drives one to indulge in porn again and again.
Effects of porn on teens
Research has shown that early exposure to porn at impressionable ages may adversely shape the sexual practices and attitudes of young teens that may stay with them throughout adolescence. For example, early exposure for males can lead to the tendency to objectify women, less progressive gender role attitudes such as thinking that men are superior and that women should serve men, or even sexual harassment. It may also potentially strengthen attitudes supportive of sexual violence or violence against women.2
An excessive indulgence in porn can also be highly detrimental to one’s mental health. Research reveals that teenagers exposed to sexually explicit websites are more likely to be promiscuous and more likely to have used alcohol or other intoxicating substances during their last sexual encounter. This puts them at a higher risk for developing a substance abuse disorder or mental health disorder.1
What can parents do?
Teenage boys, 12-17 years old, have the highest risk of developing a porn addiction.1 Of course, girls are not immune to developing a porn addiction either. Hence, it is important for parents to be aware early and take measures to protect their children from the trap of porn.
TCW recommends that parents pay attention to what their children are doing at home especially when they are using their mobile devices and laptops. Watch out for their body postures or positioning of their screens. If they are watching porn, they may take care to avoid exposure of their screens by tilting their screens at a certain angle.
The platform commonly used by youths for pornography today would be their mobile phones. In most cases, it's the single digital device they have full autonomy over. It is also an inconspicuous device that allows for convenient discreet viewing. Parents should be mindful of the hours that their children are online, especially late at night. Parents could also check their children’s browsing history on shared/family devices and be aware of the type of friends that the child hangs out with.
If parents notice any signs of possible porn consumption, they should not avoid the issue but be open to talk to and educate the child. It is better for a parent of the same gender to initiate the talk (eg. father to son, mother to daughter).
Parents could also take preventive measures early by learning about platforms which may provide their children with early exposure to sexual content/activity, which may potentially lead to addiction. Some of these sites are Free chat now, dirty roulette, Sammyboy forum, Reddit, Bigo Live, Pornhub and Patreon.
Parents can install porn block apps or parental control apps to prevent their children from visiting such sites or accidentally accessing them. In addition, parents can put in place boundaries such as a time limit to online use or having their children use a family computer positioned in an open area when they use the internet at home.
Now that you know more about the effects of porn on your child, start taking steps to prevent your child from falling into the porn trap. And remember, taking the time and effort to bond with your child would make communicating with them about sex education easier. It is best when your child learns about sex from you in a scientific and non-perverse manner instead of from the porn industry.
TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW) is a pioneer and leading non-profit agency that champions cyber wellness and media literacy education in Singapore. Since 2001, TCW has reached more than 320 schools and one million youths, parents, educators and counsellors through its education, advocacy and intervention efforts.
Want to know more on the latest online trends that may be affecting your child? Need to speak with an expert on your child’s mobile device usage habits? Get in touch with TOUCH Cyber Wellness here!
For more articles on cyber wellness, check out notAnoobie.online, an online cyber wellness resource for parents by TOUCH Cyber Wellness and Singtel.
1 PsychGuides.com, Recovery Brands LLC
2Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2017)