As more research links pornography to psychological and physiological
damage, advocates hope it will soon generate the same national antipathy
as smoking cigarettes.
“Pornography is the new tobacco and that’s good news,” Haley Halverson
of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said Aug. 3 during a
Family Research Council policy lecture. “Pornography is pervasive and
popular today—there’s no denying it and it’s a really serious problem we
have to address. But so was smoking in the 1950s. It was popular,
everybody did it—it was considered glamorous. But as the harms became
more apparent, as the research was sent out to the public and was able
to be digested by them, both the general public and elected officials
demanded a public health approach to the problem.”
Halverson predicts in the same way Americans agreed tobacco was
harmful, public figures and lawmakers will soon coalesce around an
effort to reduce porn consumption.
In April, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, signed a resolution to
declare pornography a public health crisis. The resolution called for
new education and research initiatives to shape future policy changes
aimed at reducing pornography exposure and addiction. The measure noted
new technology created an environment for universal availability of
pornographic material, even for children—and porn “perpetuates a
sexually toxic environment.”
During the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last month,
delegates unanimously adopted an amendment to the party platform to call
pornography a public health crisis that is destroying lives.
“Pornography, with its harmful effects, especially on children, has
become a public health crisis that is destroying the life of millions,”
the amendment stated. “We encourage states to continue to fight this
public menace and pledge our commitment to children’s safety and
well-being.”
On Aug. 1, the Washington Examiner reported Republican presidential
nominee Donald Trump signed a pledge to make enforcing existing laws
against pornography a top priority of his administration. The pledge
from Enough Is Enough, a non-partisan organization that aims to make the
internet safer for children and families, states the president should
also consider appointing a special commission to explore porn’s short-
and long-term effects. Those who sign the pledge also agree to work with
corporations on porn-reduction initiatives and to support other
policies that shield children from porn.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton refused to sign the
pledge. Clinton said on principle she agrees with the effort but her
campaign will not sign any pledges during the election season.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Halverson said. “This is an issue that
everyone, whether they are concerned about the human dignity, the value
of family, the impact that it has on women, can all come together and
agree on this.”
In March, Time Magazine dedicated an issue to looking into the harmful
side effects of porn use. Its cover story told accounts of young men
growing up in a world with constant access to porn and the negative
impacts it has had on their lives.
A 2014 study found evidence that excessive porn use physically shrinks
the human brain. In parts of the brain controlling motivation levels and
decision-making, researchers found a reduction in brain matter for
heavy porn users. The discovery alarmed scientists, especially since
other research shows more Americans view porn than ever before and begin
at an early age, when the brain is still developing. Twenty-seven
percent of millennials viewed porn before hitting puberty and nearly
two-thirds of American males 24-years-old and younger actively seek out
porn at least once a week, according to the study.
Barna Group research found porn use quickly desensitizes the brain’s
pleasure receptors and addicts move to more hardcore and sexually
violent content to satisfy urges.
Halverson said when it comes to porn, supply equals demand. Of the 50
most popular pornographic videos on the internet, 88 percent contained
some form of physical violence against women.
“People are exposed at such an early age that they are getting their
sexual education from pornography,” she said. “This might be the first
thing they learn about sex—that is sex is violent and women like it.”
Courtesy: WORLD News Service
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