Pornification: The Facts

Ed Stetzer with a sobering summary:

Sexual lust has been present with us since the early days of humanity. But in our modern era we are faced with free, 24/7, private access to images not fit to describe.  The Boston Globe online notes,

Not too long ago, pornography was a furtive profession, its products created and consumed in the shadows. But it has steadily elbowed its way into the limelight, with an impact that can be measured not just by the Internet-fed ubiquity of pornography itself but by the way aspects of the porn sensibility now inform movies, music videos, fashion, magazines, and celebrity culture.” [Boston Globe]

 Of people who use the Internet, 43% visit pornographic websites. Some 40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites, with pornographic downloads represent 35% of all Internet downloads. Of the 40 million regular visitors, 33% are woman, while 70% of men aged 18-24 visit porn sites monthly. [Gizmodo reference below]  It’s not just adults.  “Sex” and “porn” are among the top 5 most frequently searched terms for children under 18. Only 3% of adult websites require verification of age before viewing and some of those merely say, “Are you over 18? Click HERE if yes.”  [Online Education]

 The passion for pornographic images and the corresponding consequences have been around since the beginning of recorded civilization. Phone porn and sexting did not create the pornification phenomena but does enhance the problem. By the way, in a 2009 Harris Survey, 19% of teens surveyed have engaged in sexting. . .

Read the rest here.