PORNOGRAPHY ON TODAY’S YOUTH

By: Borbe, Joshua Rian F.

Exposure to illicit materials like pornography is not uncommon or rare, to see or witness
these are oft to be prevalent nowadays, and teens are no exception. (Sage Journals,
2023) Teenagers' exposure to pornography may happen in different ways, it can be
accidental, out of curiosity, or it is of their own volition. In the era we live in now, the
digital era, exposure to sexually explicit materials is prevalent, several studies actually
show that teens are the most vulnerable. The great increase and easy access to the
internet have brought immense and ubiquitous access to pornography.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), today’s Filipino youth, aged 15-21,
has shown an increase in sexual activity. According to the PSA, among males 3 out of 4
males have said that they do indeed watch pornography and bear witness to other
sexually explicit content while 2 out of 5 females have said the same. As today is the age
of social media, the majority of the female Filipino youth (56.0%) have a social networking
account; while only half of the males have an account. However, very few have a
personal blog at two percent each for both females and males, these statistics do not
specifically imply that the subject watch pornography, but these numbers show how many
of them are vulnerable and have access to it online. Whilst another article from Philstar
Life says that nearly four-fifths of 16 and 17-year-olds have encountered pornographic
content on the internet. To add to their findings Philstar Life also states that from a recent
study Pornographic content is virtually ubiquitous on the internet, and surveys suggest
that 25% of all searches lead to explicit content. Overall, 78% of users between the ages
of 16 and 17 reported that they had encountered pornography on the internet. Moreover,
many of them stated that they visited dedicated pornographic websites frequently. Those
who participated in the survey admitted that, on average, they had last visited such sites
6 days prior to filling in the questionnaire. (Philstar Life, 2021)

The reasons why teenagers sought to consume sexually explicit content vary but
nonetheless, the most probable causes are; curiosity, teenagers are going through
puberty hence their curiosity about sex and attraction is at its peak. Another reason is to
relieve sexual tensions, sometimes, teenagers are stressed, thus they look for things that
might relieve them of their burden, in turn, they find pornography as a suitable escape or
relief. Adolescents’ exposure to pornography is influenced by a range of developmental,
social, demographic, psychological, and educational factors, in fact, according to The
National Center for Biotechnology Information, male adolescents are more prone to use
or consume pornography compared to their female counterparts.

The effects of pornography on its viewers are varied but most of it, if not all is negative.
Aside from relieving stress and sexual tensions and desires, pornography does not have
any positive effects. Many individuals never anticipate or expect that viewing pornography
will negatively influence their lives. Yet, usage often significantly impacts the user as well
as his or her family, workplace, and community. (Camilleri et al., 2021; Fight the New
 Drug, 2023; Park et al., 2018). According to several articles, some of the common
damaging effects of pornography for users can include addiction, isolation, increased
aggression, distorted beliefs and perceptions about relationships and sexuality, negative
feelings about themselves, and neglecting other areas of their lives. (Fight the New Drug,
2023; Maltz & Maltz, 2006; Manning, 2006).

From a spiritual perspective, pornography has no, not in the littlest bit any positive effects.
If one is to try to engage with pornography, it would not only be a sin but it would mean to
stray away from the teachings of God. According to spiritual articles online, pornography
not only destroys and taints one’s soul, but it also blights their dignity and self-
preservation. Pornography takes a toll on one’s mentality and spirit, the continuous
consumption of pornography and other sexually explicit material may lead to addiction
and enslavement to lust.

Citations:
Chatterjee, S., & Kar, S. K. (2023). Teen Pornography: An Emerging Mental Health Challenge.
Journal of Psychosexual Health, 5(1), 30–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318231154230

Philippine Statistics Authority | Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.). https://psa.gov.ph/press-

releases/id/54645#:~:text=Aside%20from%20teenage%20fertility%2C%20it,females%20have
%20done%20the%20same.

Andrie, E. K., Sakou, I., Tzavela, E. C., Richardson, C., & Tsitsika, A. (2021). Adolescents’
Online Pornography Exposure and Its Relationship to Sociodemographic and Psychopathological
Correlates: A Cross-Sectional Study in Six European Countries. Children (Basel), 8(10), 925.
https://doi.org/10.3390/children8100925

Watching pornography widespread among young Internet users, and they use VPNs—study. (n.d.).
Philstar Life. https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/191675-pornography-young-internet-users

Utah State University. (2023, April 13). Effects of Pornography on Relationships. USU.
https://extension.usu.edu/relationships/research/effects-of-pornography-on-
relationships#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20common%20damaging,%26%20Maltz%2C
%202006%3B%20Manning%2C

Publishing, G. (2022). Does Pornography Affect Spirituality? Glorian.

https://glorian.org/learn/video/does-pornography-affect-spirituality?
cmp_id=16566298296&adg_id=138188630607&kwd=pornography
%20addiction&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIteq-
gqHW_gIV17WWCh2l8QtcEAAYASAAEgJ4jvD_BwE