Kids between 13 to 18 spend more than 72 hours a week using electronic media.
Do you know what they’re seeing?
Most parents think their kids are immune to the dangers online… that they are too innocent, too smart or too “good” to get involved with pornography. But the average age of first exposure to pornography is 11, and 90% of 8- to 16-year-olds have viewed porn online. In addition, the stuff kids are seeing today is far more graphic, violent, deviant, and destructive than the pornography you or I may have encountered when we were young. No child is emotionally or mentally prepared to deal with this content, and it’s our responsibility as parents to protect them.
X3watch makes it easier to keep your kids safe. We make it our mission to protect kids from porn. Just install it on all the devices your kids use–desktops, laptops, smart phones and tablets. X3watch runs in the background to monitor Internet activity, evaluate content in real time, and make sure only the good stuff gets through. We’ll send you regular reports and email notifications, and you can manage every device on one simple account.
How are kids accessing pornography?
The majority of the porn available online is free and easy for anyone to access. Even if users are required to enter their age or “click here” if they’re 18, most curious kids will just lie about their age. Pornographers also use a variety of deceptive marketing tactics, so even if your child is not actively looking for pornography they can accidentally access it by misspelling a search word or clicking on a link that looks innocent. Some porn is even associated with popular cartoon characters and teen icons, so a child searching for his favorite celebrity may accidentally come across pornographic content.
Additionally, we are seeing an increase in the amount of cross-marketing between online gaming and the pornography industry; be aware that mature video games may include virtual porn, sex acts, and other inappropriate content. Kids can also encounter porn on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, where porn stars or individuals posting naked pictures may message or tweet a teen. Finally, a new market is emerging for mobile pornography; your child could have easy access through her mobile device or through pornographic apps, so check up on her mobile Internet use.
Regardless of how a kid may have accessed porn, recognize that all kids are curious about sex and a simple way for kids to learn more is to go online. Take action to be strategic and intentional about what your kids do and don’t see online with filtering and blocking software like X3watch.
Why should I be so concerned
Pornography can have a very negative impact on the emotional and mental health of a child. Generally, when a child first accesses pornographic content, he or she feels confused, ashamed, upset and scared, but with repeated exposure images and content can appear normal. A user will often become desensitized and seek out more deviant, bizarre and even violent content. Many pornography users will begin to objectify the opposite sex, have a more trivial perspective on sexual activity, and even act out the behaviors they’ve seen.
Studies have shown that the prefrontal part of the brain that controls common sense, judgment, and emotion is not mature until approximately 24 years of age. Exposure to healthy sexual norms and attitudes during the critical period can result in the child developing a healthy adult sexuality. In contrast, if there is exposure to porn during this period, thoughts of sexual deviance may become imprinted on the child’s “hard drive” and become a permanent part of his or her sexuality.
Tips for parents
- Recognize that kids want and need adult guidance about sex.
- Watch out for teachable moments.
- Understand that pornography is not just for boys.
- Use parental controls, especially a filter. Monitoring software like X3watch can help provide accountability in your home.
Ask your kids if they have ever seen something online that made them uncomfortable or curious. Ask them if they have accidentally seen sexual pictures online. If they have seen pornography, ask them how they came across it, what they saw and how it made them feel. Talk to them about whether their friends are looking at pornography. Help them to understand that you are here to help. Do not embarrass or shame them. If your kids are struggling with this content, they need your support and love.