Is teen-age viewing of pornography a good or bad thing? Read the following article printed in Ascend newsletter and decide for yourself.
Researchers estimate that – whether intentionally or accidentally — the average age of first viewing of porn is 12 years of age, and anecdotal evidence suggests as young as 8. Much of online porn is free and unfiltered, and is often violent, degrading, and extreme.
Facts About Kids and the Porn Crisis
- 39% of 14-year-olds report having seen porn, with about one-third of young people saying they had seen it for the first time at age 12 or younger
- Minors who view pornography and other sexualized media are more accepting of sexual violence, and more likely to believe “rape myths” (such as the myth that “women enjoy being raped”)
- Increased use of online porn decreases boys’ academic performance six months later
- For teens, a significant relationship exists between frequent pornography use and feelings of loneliness and major depression
- A study of 14- to 19-year-olds found that females who consumed pornographic videos were at a significantly greater risk of being victims of sexual harassment or sexual assault
In a study of young teens, 66 percent of boys reported porn consumption in the past year; this early porn exposure was correlated with perpetration of sexual harassment two years later.
Source: Ascend Newsletter
