Internet Porn is the Digital Child Predator

         Child predators are every parent's worst nightmare. Parents watch their children closely and admonish them to never talk to strangers. But hiding in many households, right under parents’ noses, may be a digital child predator capable of abusing your child.

       The digital child predator hides in every digital device, laptop and desktop computers, smart phones, tablets, even watches. 

     This predator is Internet pornography.  It dominates our online world.  

• Internet pornography is a $13 billion dollar per annum industry with revenues larger than some of the top technology companies,
• Over 40% of all internet users view pornography,
• There are 68 million daily pornographic search engine requests, which is 25% of all search requests and 35% of all internet downloads,
• It would take over 50 years to view all of the free pornographic content on the Internet.  Thousands of pages are being added daily,
• 20% of men and women report struggling with pornography addiction,
• 34% of Internet users report unwanted exposure to pornography either through popup ads, misdirected links or emails. 
• MOST DISTURBINGLY
• 80% of all children are exposed to internet pornography.  The average age of exposure is 11, with most exposure taking place in the home. (1)

      According to Marysia Weber, in osteopathic family physician certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, “Internet pornography addiction can develop even more easily than a drug or alcohol addiction because it engages the most sensitive sense we have, our eyes, and  it’s readily available in unlimited quantities. “  Since their brains are not fully formed, young children are particularly vulnerable to internet pornography and such exposure can be very harmful. (2)

       Children can be scarred psychologically and even develop a sexual addiction, which includes promiscuity and/or pornography addiction.  Pornography addiction is rising at an alarming rate among young people and many attribute their addiction to early exposure to pornography.  Neurological research has found that pornography is particularly addictive because of the neuro-chemical release of dopamine in the brain that occurs while viewing pornography.  For many youths, the euphoric “high” that occurs in this process quickly develops into a coping style for escaping emotional distress. (3)

Footnotes

1. www.techaddiction.ca
2. American Osteopathic Association, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-newsreleases//top-five-warning-signs-of-internet-pornography-addiction-280653.822.html
3.  “Navigating Pornography Addiction : A Guide for Parents,” www.therapyassociates.net

      For a detailed guide to protecct your children from internet pornography, please see the button below: