Would you allow your child to watch porn? If yes, at what age?

The decision to allow your child to watch pornography is controversial. While some believe it can provide education and awareness, others argue it can harm their development by exposing them to harmful depictions of sex, increasing the risk of addiction, and normalizing violent and non-consensual behavior.

Would you allow your child to watch porn? If yes, at what age? This blog explores the reasons why some parents don’t allow their children to watch porn, factors to consider when making this decision, and provides tips to talk about pornography with kids healthily and responsibly.

Parents, Let’s find out together!

Would you allow your child to watch porn?

The decision is up to every parent, here are some reasons you can take as a reference:

• Increased risk of sexting among teens

Sexting – is the sending, receiving, or forwarding of pornographic content or pornographic messages via text message or email.

A survey of 4,564 teenagers aged 14–17 years in five European countries found that watching pornography on the Internet was significantly associated with an increased probability of sending sexual texts and pictures (sexting) in male students.

Sophia Ankel, 23, of London, said she was “totally insulted” after sexually explicit images of her were spread around her school.

One mistake is that many parents assume that sex is harmless because, in reality, no sex happens. However, sexting is a form of sexual intercourse – sending, receiving, and transmitting nudity photos, messages, videos, and pornography such as nudity, sexual behavior, or sexual emojis.

For children under the age of 12, exposure to porn can be distressing and harmful. It can normalize violent and non-consensual behavior, increase the risk of addiction and compulsive behavior, and raise legal and ethical concerns. 

• Potential harm to the child’s development

Is watching porn bad for teens? Certainly, it is really dangerous for teens!

The results of a study show that the link between loneliness and pornography is positive and meaningful. Survey data of 1,247 participants seeking help using porn shows that children who watch porn are more likely to feel lonely and those who are experiencing loneliness are more likely to watch pornography.

And this circle goes on and on.

In other words, when anything is done secretly, your child will tend to hide it and feel ashamed of himself. The harmful effects of watching porn make your children dishonest and more susceptible to anxious personality disorders.

• Wrong perception about safe sex

41% of 11-17 yo agree that watching porn makes them less respectful of the opposite sex

Children believe pornography can influence behavior and attitudes toward sex and relationship.

According to the survey, girls who view pornography report that these are “things to do” during sex to meet their boyfriend’s expectations. They also talked about their fears that sexual extremist images would be considered “normal” by males so they can be applied in real life.

Some young people feel that porn has influenced their behavior during sex; especially after being exposed to “rough” or “forced” pornography. Aggression and violence against women found in most popular pornography can teach your children (especially boys) that aggressive behavior towards women is socially acceptable.

Additionally, rough and violent pornography leaves your child with unrealistic expectations about sex and a false perception of what is known as a healthy relationship.

• Increased risk of addiction and aggressive behavior

Adolescents displaying signs of excessive pornography consumption are prone to engaging in dishonesty, theft, truancy, frequent cheating/manipulation of others, arson, forced sexual acts, verbal aggression, and making sexually aggressive comments using various tools.

Other research has also demonstrated an association between the consumption of pornography and juvenile delinquency.

A prime example is Nathan Matthews. This guy killed his stepmother’s stepdaughter like in a horror movie. According to the investigation, Matthews is an extremely violent sex addict.

Matthews was sentenced to life in prison, with at least 33 years serving. Police believe that the murderer’s motive is partly due to being too haunted by porn with extremely violent content.

Golden tips for talking to your child about pornography

Talking to your child about pornography can be a tough task for any parent. However, it’s important to have open and honest conversations about this topic to ensure that your child has accurate information and a healthy attitude toward sexuality.

Here are some tips to help you talk about pornography with kids:

• Establish open and honest communication: Encourage your child to come to you with any questions or concerns they have about sex or pornography. Let them know that you are there to provide support and guidance.
• Using porn blocker, content filter devices like CyberPurify Egg:

As a parent, it’s natural to worry about the harmful content that your child could come across online, and the potential negative effects it could have on their mental health, academic performance, and behavior.

We understand how scary it can be to think about your little one being exposed to harmful content, but don’t worry – you don’t have to face this alone!

Once you connect with parental control device CyberPurify Egg, your child will automatically be protected from harmful materials on the Internet. No more worrying about your child stumbling upon inappropriate websites– CyberPurify Egg has got you covered!

You can also set schedules to block social media during specific times, such as homework time, bedtime, and family time. You can customize the schedule to fit your family’s unique needs and routines as picture below:

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• Provide accurate information about sex: Be honest and age-appropriate in your explanations about sex and sexual behavior. Help your child understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy sexual behaviors.
• Set boundaries and guidelines for internet use: It’s important to establish clear guidelines for internet use and to restrict your child’s online screentime. 
• Emphasize the importance of consent and respect: Help your child understand the importance of consent and respect in all sexual encounters. Teach them to recognize and respect their boundaries as well as those of their partners.
• Encourage critical thinking and media literacy: Teach your child to be critical of the messages and images they see in the media, including pornography. Help them understand that pornographic depictions are often unrealistic and can promote harmful attitudes and behaviors towards sex and relationships.

Would you allow your child to watch porn? If yes, at what age? After this blog parents – you might know how to make the right decision for your little one, right? 

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