Written by: The Meadows Adolescent Center By Alanna Hilbink Our kids face challenges we never had to face as children, and one of these is the prevalence of technology in our everyday lives. Because of the easy accessibility to tech, kids are experiencing more exposure to porn at a young age than ever before. In fact, Common Sense’s 2022 “Teens and Pornography” report found that 73% of teens have consumed pornography, whether intentionally or accidentally. How Does Exposure to Porn at a Young Age Impact Kids? Exposure to porn at a young age can change how we feel about ourselves and how we experience sex and relationships. PLoS One shares that porn can “contribute to personal insecurities about adolescents’ bodies, their appearance, or their sexual performance.” Porn can also lead to social isolation or an unhealthy or unrealistic idea of what sex and relationships involve. Teens who view porn may experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other mental health concerns. Teens who view porn may experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other mental health concerns. And of greatest distress is the fact that viewing pornography creates the potential for porn addiction at a young age. Pornography causes observable, measurable changes in brain chemistry and function. The Journal of Clinical Medicine explains that these changes mirror the changes caused by substance abuse and addiction and can cause the following: Impulsivity Impeded learning processes Impeded ability to pay attention Poor judgment Poor decision-making Lowered memory capacity Lowered ability to regulate emotions These effects create problems for us at any age, but when young minds are impacted, the result can be greater and longer-lasting. The Journal of Adolescent Health shares, “Adolescence is recognized as the period for onset of behaviors and conditions that not only affect health limited to that time, but also lead to adulthood disorders.” Essentially, the earlier a person sees porn, the more it affects them both now and long into the future. What Are Signs of Porn Addiction in Teens? When it comes to our children, porn addiction can seem like a problem for someone else, for a different kind of child or family. But when we ignore porn addiction, minimize it, or vilify it, we don’t create opportunities for healing. If you’re worried about a teen’s porn consumption, rather than deny the possibility, look for the following signs of porn addiction at a young age: Increased amount of time online Declining interest in school or hobbies Pornography usage when stressed or anxious Continued pornography usage after being confronted about it Anger or anxiousness when unable to access the internet Anxiety or depression Increased sexual aggression or dangerous sexual behaviors Problems with relationships with friends, family, or partners If you are a young person who is struggling, and you see these changes in your life, seek help, and talk with a trusted adult. And if you’re an adult concerned about a child, take action now, not later. Porn addiction is real, and when untreated, it can have lifelong effects. What Can We Do About Exposure to Porn at a Young Age? While keeping kids from seeing porn seems like a good way to curb the rate of porn addiction for young men and women, a complete ban is unrealistic in this modern age. However, you can limit just how much and how often your teen comes across explicit content. Monitor your child’s screen time, from the websites they visit, to the content they see in social media apps to the video games they play. Consider installing filters on your children’s phones, computers, and tablets. Insist on internet usage only in common rooms versus private rooms. But even with boundaries in place, we can’t watch our children constantly. Common Sense found that 41% of teens reported seeing porn during the school day, and often on school-owned devices. And we also know the more you try to limit teens, the more they will push the limits and find work-arounds. Therefore, the real first step towards keeping kids healthy is to start conversations about pornography and sexual addiction. Meadows Senior Fellow Dr. Patrick Carnes explains what he believes to be a large part of the problem in men who are struggling with these addictions: “They never sought help.” To solve this problem, Carnes suggests, “Part of it is educating kids about what happens to the brain, what happens in addiction, what mental health is all about, and doing it in school.” Just as pornography is reaching kids sooner, help can reach them sooner as well. Part of it is educating kids about what happens to the brain, what happens in addiction, what mental health is all about, and doing it in school. — Dr. Patrick Carnes How to Talk to Teens About Exposure to Porn and Addiction It’s OK if you don’t know how to reach out to your teen about porn and addiction; we are the first generation of parents having to navigate a world where our children have access to everything at their fingertips. Since we did not have this same childhood, many of us simply don’t have the resources or knowledge to relate and reach out. But remaining silent is not the solution. Common Sense shares that while many children have had “the talk” about sexual health and safety with their parents, this talk only included a discussion of pornography 43% of the time. But when it was included, teens reported learning more about sex and thinking more critically about porn and porn consumption afterward. If you’re ready to start the conversation about porn and addiction, reach out to us here at The Meadows Adolescent Center. We can guide you through your options for giving your teen a fresh start, free from porn addiction.
