Published Dec. 30, 2005
A frank discussion about pornography
It comes as a surprise to most parents that almost all adolescents will be exposed to pornography at one time or another.
It is sad to realize that access to X-rated material is readily available in our society. It is on cable television, on cell phone networks, on the Internet, in homes, on magazine racks, and available from friends and acquaintances.
Adolescents are naturally curious about sex. They are also eager to practice independence and to take risks, even those against which they have been cautioned by their parents. These facts converge to make the danger of pornography clearly present to youths.
The difficulty with this situation is that predators of adolescents frequently use pornography as a lure. They offer to show pornographic material to teens and assure them that it is harmless. They use the pornography to desensitize youths to the acts that are pictured. They encourage teens to act out the scenes depicted.
It is a small step from this to blackmail by threatening to show the pictures to parents or others if the youth doesn’t do as they wish. Predators also publish the material on the Internet or sell their photos/videos to other predators. Part of their addiction can be the need to display their activity publicly to others of like mind.
Pornography is dangerous to teens. Young people need to be alerted to the lure of pornography. They need to develop strategies to keep themselves safe when they are faced with this particular lure.
What should teens do if an adult tries to show them nude or X-rated material or wants to get them involved in pornography? They need to refuse to let this happen, get to safety as quickly as possible and tell someone about the incident.
The incident should also be reported to the police because it is against the law.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Beginning in 2006, the Safe Environment Notes column will be reprinted versions of columns that ran in 2004 or 2005, with updated information as needed. The Safe Environment Committee is expected to begin sending fresh columns again sometime this year.