Is Teen Porn Forced on Teens?

As children become more familiar with using the internet, they become more vulnerable to coming across pornographic material – often depicting sexual acts in violent ways – that could alter their understanding of what sex means. They could encounter it by searching for unfamiliar terms online, clicking links provided by friends, or being shown images via other media sources.

No matter if a kid seeks out porn or happens upon it accidentally, most images found therein are disturbing and can send the message that sexual gratification should be the goal of relationships and violent acts are acceptable behavior. Furthermore, it could teach boys that girls are always ready for sexual encounters which could encourage them to exploit them even when they may not yet be ready themselves.

Recent surveys reveal that most teens who view pornography do so accidentally, according to a recent survey conducted in the U.S. youth ages 10-15. Of those polled, only 23% sought sexually explicit material (SEM; also known as erotica or pornography). More teens view sexually explicit material on computers or TV than smartphones or tablets but few incidents are reported to law enforcement.

Parents can help protect their kids from watching porn by setting parental controls on devices and monitoring screen time, according to Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise and founder of Raising Digital Natives. However, she warns this approach may still allow children to bypass these safeguards when alone; so for maximum effectiveness parents must talk openly to them about how pornography sends negative messages about sexuality and healthy relationships.