to pleased that something is being done about online porn.

[mootime]

Don't get me wrong, I am not totally anti porn. Each to their own. I have been reading more and more articles about the impact of online porn on our children due to it being so easily accessible and frankly it scares me.

I have nieces who are 18 and 16 and they constantly post pictures of themselves on FB pulling "porn pouts" and basically posing provocatively. I also know that they have been active for a good few years. I know that when I was that age I was no angel (far from it) but I'd seen one porno (by accident at a friends boyfriends house) and was horrified by it. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be viewed in that way. It seems like its now considered the norm.

I genuinely hope that restricting access makes it less "normal". Its a bit like an online version of having to go to the newsagents to buy it. It doesn't ban it, it just makes it something you deliberately have to access.

[libertarianj]

They way i see it is that we need to ruin it for them early. Load it up with the reality that it is going to ultimately make them pretty crap boyfriends who won't have a clue about real sex and will find it difficult to get into real sexual relationships when they get older.

while you are at it why don't you tell them it will make them go blind too?

[EBearhug]

Even if female porn stars have higher self esteem, it doesn't mean that porn can't be damaging to teens who view it. Both could be true.

[differentnameforthis]

I would just like to say that a couple of weeks ago I reported 4 videos on facebook that were pornographic. (all were removed)

So if the likes of facebook/twitter/myspace (does anyone still use that)/bebo/instagram are accessible via mobile phone, your kids can still access porn. Are they going to ask all mobile phone providers to do the same? Also, if you let any of the above through the filter, your kids can still access porn, because they will become places where people will post porn for easier access.

[differentnameforthis]

but that doesn't mean they aren't shown all sorts of porn on the school bus, at their mates house etc etc, how do you parent that?

Those houses you talk about, they are the ones where the parents will opt out & leave the whole bloody house unprotected. So how does that help anyone?

[PeriodFeatures]

libertarianj So emergent adolescent sexuality and pornography are a good healthy combination are they? Really? Honestly?

I'm sad for you if you can't see that sexuality is so much more than the physical act. Surely it's obvious that if young people, during those stage of development are getting the message that sex and pornography are one in the same it is going to skew their perceptions of relationships and the opposite (or same) sex?

Don't be naive in thinking that it doesn't impact on their behaviour, promote a culture of sexual violence and poor body image,

It is important to be good humoured and realistic with young people and very very direct. We live in a culture saturated by a sexualised gender discourse and whether you want to face it or not, it effects peoples behaviour.

I'm not saying that censorship is the way forward as education can be far more effective.

If you had spent any time with teenage girls who had been victims of sexual exploitation and had sex act forced on them by their peers, you might have a re think about your attitude. I have spent time with teenage boys who are deeply confused.

Being permissive and liberal are two different issues.

[SolidGoldBrass]

Here's a useful history lesson about the last time they tried to Do Something.

To quote Backlash once again: if censorship's the answer, it was a fucking stupid question.

[Dahlen]

You can be pro porn without thinking it's a good idea to allow 11 year olds access to it.

[Dahlen]

Why are you pushing this agenda so much libertarianj

I don't like porn from a personal perspective. What other people do is up to them. I have no desire to police other people's thoughts and desires and don't think banning porn or censoring it is in any way a solution to the moral objections against adult porn for adult consumption.

However, even among those who enjoy porn, you're the only one I've come across who seems to think it's a good thing that children have unrestricted access to it. I find that rather disturbing.

[libertarianj]

libertarianj So emergent adolescent sexuality and pornography are a good healthy combination are they? Really? Honestly?

Given that this is usually the case for the vast majority of people, even before the popularity of the internet then i would have to conclude on the whole it isn't a problem, unless you believe society is in moral decline?

Surely it's obvious that if young people, during those stage of development are getting the message that sex and pornography are one in the same it is going to skew their perceptions of relationships and the opposite (or same) sex?

but why assume they would consider them to be one and the same? You see this where education comes in and i have not argued against education ?

Why are you pushing this agenda so much libertarianj

All i am trying to do is dispel the myths surrounding the moral outrage and panic of people who support these proposals, by using a bit of scientific analysis. I am not saying we should promote porn to kids nor am i saying we shouldn't educate them about it. Just that we need to put things into perspective and that the risks are low if they do seek out/ stumble across porn. Certainly not enough to warrant state censorship.

[lljkk]

I'm all for the proposals. yanbu