Do I really need to talk to my son? It seems like viewing porn is pretty harmless and just a normal part of being male these days. Isn’t this just a phase most boys (or young people) go through?

Although it is certainly normal to be curious and interested, the average young male today will not “casually” view pornography without being seriously impacted by what he consumes.

There are several reasons for this and therefore several reasons parents need to be talking with their kids about pornography. Here’s a third consideration as you weigh the “harmlessness” of porn:

3.  Professionals in the field of sexual addiction explain how today’s pornography is very, very different from the images created thirty or forty years ago. The pornography that is accessible today to any child with internet access is incredibly violent, degrading, and destructive.

The accurate name for today’s pornography is actually “gonzo” or “gorno” – it is a combination of gore and pornography – and it champions and celebrates brutal sexual violence.

Even if an individual does not initially seek out this type of pornography, within approximately 8 minutes of first exposure, gonzo porn will likely be viewed, even if accidentally.

Addictions, by nature, create tolerance, and demand something new, more graphic, and more intense to produce the same high. A common refrain among porn viewers is that they find themselves aroused by imagery they never would have imagined enjoying when they first began consuming porn.

If you need further information about just how destructive and horrendous the content of pornography is today, there are informational resources available. Unfortunately, it is impossible to grasp the extreme nature of the sexual violence without feeling somewhat emotionally violated yourself, so I won’t post those resources here.  Speaking with a professional can help you sort out the appropriate resources while protecting your own mind.

Mindy Pierce, LPC
mpierce @ growcounseling.com

Photo Cred: Tonya Doughty