Perils of pornography

A generation ago, anyone who wanted to view pornography had to make a concerted effort to do so. It was sold by mail order, in adult book stores and some magazine shops. People risked being found out by friends, family members, clergy, bosses and others.

Now, pornography can be accessed at the click of a computer mouse. It is delivered over cell phones. Most hotels offer pornographic pay-per-view movies. It is so readily available that children are exposed to pornography at very young ages. The average age of first exposure to pornography is 11, although children ages 7-17 report they have viewed pornography online, most while doing homework, according to statistics provided to the Deseret Morning News by the Utah Coalition Against Pornography.

With pornography becoming so pervasive, what are parents to do? Parents must become aware of the proliferation of pornography, supervise their children's use of the Internet, use filtering software and teach their children to deal with inappropriate content should they happen upon it.

On Saturday, UCAP will present a conference titled "Protecting Children and Families from Pornography and Other Harmful Materials." The conference, to be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the South Towne Expo Center, costs $25. Same-day registration will begin at 7:30 p.m., or attendees can register online at www.utahcoalition.org. UCAP is a nonprofit organization made up of diverse religious, social and cultural organizations seeking to combat the harmful effects of sexually explicit material on individuals, children and families.

The conference will offer sessions on topics covering what's happening on the Internet and how to protect children online, as well as sessions on overcoming pornography addiction, effective support systems for the wives of sex addicts and working with adolescents who are under the influence of pornography. We encourage Utahns to take part.

One difficulty UCAP has encountered in its work is a reluctance on the part of many adults to face this issue. This must be overcome. Pornography should be viewed a threat to children and to marriages. It objectifies women, which can place them at risk for abuse and assault. When men become desensitized through repeated exposure to pornography, they can have great difficulty forming appropriate relationships with women.

Pornography addiction is akin to drug addiction in that its purveyors become addicted to the neurochemicals that forms in the brain while viewing it. As with drug addicts, pornography addicts seek out more intense stimulation — including acting out sexually against women or children — as their need for the neurochemical rush escalates.

Pornography is so pervasive and profitable that fighting its proliferation is an uphill battle. The best families and couples can do is to become educated about the issue, learn tactics to prevent children from being exposed to harmful materials and seek professional help when pornography interferes with one's personal relationships. UCAP's conference is a good starting point.