What parents can do to protect kids from porn

We need to get serious about the public health threat of children viewing pornography.

Did you know that one in ten visitors to big porn sites are age 10 or under? Let that sink in for a moment.

And these kids aren’t finding Playboy. They’re seeing hard core, violent, degrading sex scenes. And it’s hurting them.

Consider the following facts and then check out my simple solutions every parent can use to protect their kids.

Pornography physically changes the brain. Scientists can now use MRI’s to show that pornography can physically shrink the prefrontal cortex (the “thinking” part of the brain).

Pornography is as addictive as other drugs. Porn offers a triple threat: it’s affordable (often free), anonymous, and accessible. With porn, your own brain makes the drug (dopamine) and creates the same addictive cravings as substances such as cocaine, heroin and alcohol.

Pornography fuels child on child sexual abuse. Kids are wired to imitate what they see adults do. When they see pornography, many children imitate the sexual acts on other children. That’s why rates of child on child harmful sexual behavior is skyrocketing.

Pornography is linked to sex trafficking and sex abuse. It fuels the demand. In his final interview, infamous serial rapist and killer Ted Bundy admitted that pornography had begun his fascination with rape. Porn is often used to groom children for sexual abuse.

Pornography destroys marriages and families. In one study, two thirds of divorce attorneys reported that the internet played a significant role in the divorces, with excessive interest in online porn contributing to more than half such cases.

Pornography is easily accessible to kids. Hardcore porn is only three taps away on most mobile devices. Apps — even “age appropriate” apps — contain back doors to the internet with no iron gates to keep kids safe.

Pornography not only changes sexual attitudes in children, but it negatively impacts their behavior.

Experts agree that the evidence that porn fuels male sexual aggression against girls and women is overwhelming.

So what’s a parent to do? Where are the solutions?

Parents can prepare kids to reject pornography.

It’s not a matter of if a child will see pornography, it’s when. That’s why it’s more important than ever to prepare young children to reject it when they see it.

Kids need to know these three things:

It’s safe to talk with their parents about uncomfortable topics. It’s crucial that kids don’t feel like they have to face this digital world alone.

What’s pornography? Give your young kids an age-appropriate definition of what pornography is and the vocabulary to talk about it. This way they won’t be caught off guard.

How to react? Empower kids with a specific plan to deal with the exposure to porn.

Kids need to know exactly what to do. Teach kids to turn, run and tell when they see pornography, or use the Can Do Plan featured in my best-selling book, Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids.

Please visit my website ProtectYoungMinds.org for free guides to help you navigate parenting in the digital age.

Finally, join with your community at the upcoming Safeguard Series: Protecting Kids from Pornography event at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Kennewick High School.

I’ll be there along with Superior Court Judge Joe Burrowes and Richland Police Chief Chris Skinner. Parents, grandparents and concerned adults are invited to attend this free community event that will provide important information, practical solutions and effective resources for families.

Find out more on the Safeguard Alliance’s Facebook page here.

This story was originally published February 9, 2018 at 2:35 PM with the headline "What parents can do to protect kids from porn."