Mark

A week or so ago Dobson stated that more than 90% of teens have viewed some pornography online. Often while doing homework. Filters alone (while a huge help) do not prevent this problem.

I give lectures on Cyber Safety but this statistic even shocked me!

I keep my daughter's computer in our family room and we ground her if we see any "click offs" - that is she turns a screen off when we enter the room.

I also check the reports from the filter to see where she has been. Any other advice out there?

__________________
Mark Strohm, Jr.
Thrifty Times

Padelford

I think most teens see it on their friend's computers. If I did I would be ashamed of that friend...

Boanerges

It is a poison- but like heroin if you allow yourself to start it could destroy your life.

James

Could check the settings on the computer, might be able to set it to only allow trusted sites to link.

No surfing might be an option. Or only surf when you are around, set a time for it. Surfing seems that it would carry the most risk, i.e.- clicking on stuff and sites she has never been to before.

Could set your pop-up blockers. Could set your computer to not except cookies. You could just make a list of the sites she can go to, period. And it could be hundreds of sites long, but as long as you have seen it then there should be less worry...

M. Reborn

Having discussed the porn problem with others in our circle of friends, there seems to be some agreement among us that the primary reason for looking at such material is curiosity.

There is just a brief moment between an early age level, at which time there is no real interest in nudity and intimacy, to the puberty age level when a sudden interest takes hold. Dealing openly with the situation in an appropriate discussion seems to be much better than avoiding the reality that is clearly there.

Among our friends, it's agreed that activities within the family are the ideal means to demonstrate a healthy attitude about the human body, and meeting its needs. Bedroom and bathroom doors are not always closed, and male and female features don't have to be hidden as shameful. Both genders function differently, and young people need to learn what's proper and what's prurient. It's best that they learn at home before they find out "on the street".

It's some level of success when an adolescent comes home to tell that a friend had exposed him to a magazine with some sexually explicit images, and that he replied, "well I'm familiar with that from what my parents have told me and shown me." As parents, I think we have a greater responsibility than just creating obstacles on the computer. After all, how are we to block all the extraneous pornographic material that prevails everywhere else in society?

Boanerges

A fish never sees the hook until he has swallowed the object of his desire

goldenroad

Porn is extremely powerful. I hate to admit but I've looked at it before but what i've discovered is that once you give your life to Christ there is no longer room in you for both porn and Christ's love. The best way to prevent your son or daughter from going to inappropriate places on the internet is to do everything you can to bring then up in a strong relationship with Christ; also, trust them. Nobody likes to be spied on by their parents; trust brings out the best in people.

Padelford

I'm thinking most of us have.

Theophilus

One can hardly watch TV or see a movie these days without seeing some form of soft porn or sexualy suggestive material. Like the drugs the soft stuff all too often leads to the hard stuff.
However sticking our heads in the sand is not the answer. We need to setting down with our children and (grand children) and openly discussing these things. Setting a moral standard for them in the face of an ever increasingly immoral world.

Sincerely His
Cliff

Boanerges

Try driving your car and looking out your window to the left (but only for a few secomds)- your whole automobile will slowly drift in the direction of your focus-