Porn Addiction for Teens? What Parents Can Do

Porn has always been a hush-hush topic, but it's not non-existent either. The reality we often shy away from is that porn addiction for teens has become a troubling trend in our generation. People feel uncomfortable talking about it, and some even feel embarrassed. However, we need to understand that kids being addicted to internet porn is pretty common.

Kids are easily able to access porn. In fact, research by Common Sense Media that around 73% of teens have come across porn or other nude content. It can result in internet pornography viewing disorder, which keeps kids away from productive activities. So, if you want to know more about this addiction and how you can curb it, we are sharing a helpful guide with you!

The Impact of Pornography on Teenagers

It's common for parents to punish their kids when they come across watching porn. However, that's not the right approach. While many kids don't know that it's bad for their mental health and growth, some of them cannot help the addiction. As parents, we need to understand that kids go through embarrassment and shame with this addiction.

When parents punish and become bitter about it, teenagers close up and don't share their struggles. For this reason, it's important that parents show understanding and compassion. That's because it makes kids feel safe and comfortable enough to share their stories.

In simpler words, kids often struggle with anxiety, sexual disorders, and depression when they are addicted to porn. For this reason, it's important to prevent a communication breakdown by being there for kids. To understand the impact of porn on kids, we are sharing a few common issues that teenagers go through.

Sexual Aggressiveness

The girls said that people who watch porn are just as likely as boys to be sexually aggressive and be able to act sexually aggressively. Research that follows people over time shows that girls and boys who watch violent sex movies are 5 times more likely to act sexually aggressively. Studies have also found a link between watching pornography and breaking the law as a teen.

Harmful for Teen Brain

A poll of 813 US teens and young adults (ages 13 to 25) found that 26% of teens (ages 13 to 17) regularly look for pornography at least once a week. Children are more likely to become addicted than adults, and addiction can hurt brain development.

The Max Planck Institute in Berlin, Germany, did research that showed that regular pornography is less effective when you watch it more often. In order to get the same high as they felt the first time they watched porn, this is likely why more kids are turning to more sexy, violent, and unusual forms. These keep kids from becoming insensitive to women and getting the wrong idea of what a good sexual relationship is.

Bad Emotional Relationship with Parents

A national poll of 9–17-year-olds found that teens who watched porn online were more likely to say they had a worse relationship with their parents than teens who watched less porn or not at all. When kids are at an age where they are more likely to get into bad things like pornography, they need you to be there to teach and guide them. If your relationship breaks down, it will be easier for your kid to become addicted to porn.

Viewing Others as Objects of Sexual Fantasy

A lot of research has shown that kids who watch pornography are more likely to see women as sexual objects. Since then, seeing women as sexual objects has been linked to having bad feelings about women, specifically crimes against women.

Studies have shown that watching porn can make your son lose compassion and sensitivity for women, seeing them only as sexual objects. This is common in porn because players in these movies don't care about women at all, making sexual abuse seem normal.

What to Talk about Porn with Your Kids

Internet porn addiction is a real thing, and parents understand it. However, they don't know what to talk about when they approach this topic. So, if you feel clueless as well, we are sharing a few things that you can talk about.

Why Is There Pornography Online?

You can say that some adults like to look at pornography, which is why some people film or photograph sex for money.

Does Porn Sex Feel like Real Sex?

You can let your kid know that porn is not real to them. It's dangerous and often overstated. You could say that the people who act in pornography get paid. They have to do what they're told and act like they're having a great time, even if the sex is violent, not their choice, boring, or not fun.

Also, real bodies are not the same as the bodies of porn artists. For instance, the players' bodies may have been changed or improved in different ways.

What Are the Negative Things about Porn?

Teenagers who watch a lot of porn may form negative or harmful ideas about gender roles, sex, and how to perform sexual acts. Also, they might act more sexually aggressively if they've seen it in pornography, like choking, gagging, slapping, and beating. This means that watching porn can make it harder for your child to have sexual relationships that are healthy, polite, and voluntary.

Your child needs to know that good relationships include being emotionally close, trusting and giving permission, and having sex that both of you enjoy. Your child can understand this better if you talk to them about what it means to have respectful relationships.

What to Do If You Suspect Your Teen Has an Addiction

There are many options for porn addiction help for teens. The only thing that parents have to realize is that it's a slow process. Teenagers cannot give up porn addiction within a day, so there is a proper strategy that you've to follow.

Get Information from Them

You can talk to your kid about watching porn while staying calm and find out how long they've been doing it. Ask them how long they've been watching, how much they watch, what they watch, and when they last watched. Make them feel at ease so they can talk to you freely about this matter. To do this, you should make them feel less ashamed since guilt can stop them from talking more about the problem.  

Talk to your teen about how pornography can change the way we think about love and sex and how it can affect our minds and bodies. Tell them that it can make us see other people as sexual objects, which makes it hard to build good relationships. Adult sexual problems have been linked to porn abuse.

Talk to Them Calmly

Pornography is a private behavior, so make sure you and your teen can talk about it in an open and respectful way. When we talk to our teens, we need to be sensitive and not judge them. Do not make promises or get mad about the behavior; this will only make the teens more upset.

Teach Stress Management

Most of the time, addiction happens because people can't handle their worries and stress well. Teenagers can use their energy in good ways by doing things like sports, writing, or art. To help them deal with bad feelings and situations, teaching them how to relax and be mindful goes a long way.

Install Internet Blockers

Talk to your teen about how important it is to limit their use of electronics. Get them to make a plan for when they will use their screen, and then work with you to make sure they stick to it. Making an agreement about how to use the internet is helpful. This agreement should include the sites that are allowed, how long you can browse, what will happen if you break the rules, and what will happen if you follow the rules.

Develop Healthy Decision-Making Skills

This is important for lowering kids' impulsivity, which can lead them to do things that are addicting. Discuss the pros and cons of the problem with your kid, come up with different ways to deal with it, and make a plan to deal with porn addiction. We can't stop our teens from exploring their sexuality. We can make sure they have healthy interactions, though, by giving them the power to make good choices and set healthy limits.

Supporting Your Teent through Recovery from Porn Addiction

Having a Chat

Picture this - you and your child, sitting together in the comfort of your home, sipping hot chocolate or tea. This is when you gently bring up the topic, creating an atmosphere of trust and understanding, treating it as a friendly chat rather than a serious rebuke.

Setting the Stage for Internet Use

Think of it like setting up parental controls when they first started watching TV as a toddler. Only now, they're a part of the process. Together, you can establish rules for internet use, maybe even installing software that filters out explicit content. It's like creating a safety net for when you're not around.

Trading Screen Time for Green Time

Remember how your teen loved to play soccer in the park or paint landscapes? It's time to rekindle those interests. Encourage them to step away from the screens and invest time in hobbies or activities they love.

Inviting a Guide

Imagine if you had to climb Mt. Everest without a guide - daunting, right? That's how dealing with addiction might feel for your teen. So, invite a guide - a professional counselor or therapist who's familiar with these terrains. They can help navigate the journey to recovery.

Celebrating Little Victories

Remember your child's first baby steps? How you cheered each wobbly step? It's time to do that again! Each day they succeed in staying away from explicit content, cheer for them! And if they falter, be there to pick them up, just like you did when they were learning to walk.

Bonus: Detecting if Your Child Searches for Adult Content

We've discussed how to support your teen in their journey out of porn addiction. But wouldn't you feel more confident if you had an extra set of eyes helping you protect your teen in the online world?

We understand the challenge parents face in keeping up with the extensive range of apps and social media platforms teens use today. That's where AirDroid Parental Control comes in. This app helps you monitor your child's online activity, alerting you if they encounter explicit or inappropriate content.