Children addicted to porn

[DGoddess]

I grew up in what you cold call the Pre-Internet Era (specifically the 1970's and 80's.)

Since there was NO internet way back when, we had magazines and books. There were also VHS tapes starting in the 80's.

Of course, we didn't get our first VCR until late 1985, so my first experience with explicit materials were the trunk full of Playboy, Hustler and other assorted magazines my Mom kept in her room.

Not too hard to sneak out there onto the back porch while Mom was at work (and the door to the kitchen locked from the back porch side) so Grandma wouldn't bug the crap out of me (of course she thought my mother was the most awful parent ever imagined because she actually *gasp* talked to me about such things. The horrors!)

Just fix myself a ginger ale on ice from the bar (which Mom kept well stocked with everything) turn on the stereo and kick back in the recliner and look at magazines. That's how I learned about the birds and the bees (as well as the medical encyclopedia that we had at home as well.)

And yep, Mom knew that's what I was doing out there . . . she may not have been home but she had Mom Instincts. And it was cool with her (which pissed off Grandma even more as a result) b/c censorship was not a word used in our house, nor practiced. Mom was raised very sheltered, almost naive about certain things (and my Grandma was no help - she was of the old "we don't discuss that" school) so I guess with me Mom wanted me to know what was going on.

Did all of this have a devastating impact on me? I don't think so. Even though I started my writing fanfic in HS (and yes, some of it could literally set pages on fire) I was far from promiscuous as a teen. In fact I didn't have my first experience with a guy until I was 20.

I still look at it from time to time . . . even funnier was back in the 90's when we first got Internet - my younger brother was telling ME where to find the porn sites (after being online for just a short bit.) Talk about making me feel old.


Of course, it was also a different time back then as well. I'm thinking it just depends on the individual parent and child.

[Nyoibo]

Since there was NO internet way back when, we had magazines and books. There were also VHS tapes starting in the 80's.

Heh, just made me think of The Princess Bride "When I was your age, television was called books"

[Lace Neil Singer]

It's basically like an antique Kindle, but with pages... XD

I also grew up pre internet; my parents were fairly relaxed about talking about sex. My mum got me a book explaining all when my periods started, and I was able to talk to her about it.

Thing is tho, children are curious about sex, so if their parents insist on treating it like something forbidden, they're going to want to find out about it themselves. And if there are no parental controls, either on the computer or in person, on the internet, then they are going to come accross stuff that's too much too soon for them. Parents need to start taking their parental duties seriously and a) talk to their kids about sex and b) monitor what they see online.

[fireheart17]

It's basically like an antique Kindle, but with pages... XD

I also grew up pre internet; my parents were fairly relaxed about talking about sex. My mum got me a book explaining all when my periods started, and I was able to talk to her about it.

Thing is tho, children are curious about sex, so if their parents insist on treating it like something forbidden, they're going to want to find out about it themselves. And if there are no parental controls, either on the computer or in person, on the internet, then they are going to come accross stuff that's too much too soon for them. Parents need to start taking their parental duties seriously and a) talk to their kids about sex and b) monitor what they see online.

My mother sort of avoided the topic with me, but she did at least make an effort to educate us about it. How?
She took me and my sister to the "Family Life" programs that went around to local schools. We both went through "Where Did I Come From" and then "What's Happening To Me?" when we were older. On top of that, I also used to collect the "How My Body Works" books which had quite a few books on "how a baby is made and develops". So I was pretty well-informed by Year 7. Add a thorough sex ed program and we were pretty well-informed.

Although the "What's Happening To Me" video used to make me and my classmates crack up. Now you can see why

[tropicsgoddess]

Problems like kids being addicted to porn or being exposed to porn and other explicit sites and imagery is because of the lack of supervision and involvement from the parents. If I had kids, I would make sure that the computer is somewhere that I can monitor their online activities but in the same breath, I would have their profile setup with parental controls on it (but mine and my spouse's profiles password protected). Same goes for video game consoles. But I would also explain to them why I'm trying to keep them from looking at explicit images and websites.

[siead_lietrathua]

i just want to put one thing out there. a kid in their preteens is naturally curious about sex. that being said, looking at porn out of that curiousity =/= a porn or sex addict. wanting to learn is not the same as an overconsuming NEED to watch porn/masterbate.
kids sharing USB sticks of porn isnt that diffrent from when kids would steal dad's playboy and bring it to school. it's just easier not to get caught.
parents constantly seem to try to police their kid's newfound curiosity by stifling it, instead of trying to help the kids understand what is and isnt appropriate for their age group. i am almost willing to bet most of the kids that end up going to therapy for "porn addiction" do not have one, their parents are simply trying to kill their sexual curiosity.

also most of the stuff in that article regarding kid's internet use and access.. is at the fault of the parents. if you don't want your kid playing on the net unsupervised, and you are too damn lazy to get a netnanny program, don't give them the computer in their room. sigh.

sorry for the mini-rant. sex addiction isnt any fun, and i get tired of people slapping the label on anyone who dares to look at porn.