Teens Face a Dirty Internet

FOX News reports The University of New Hampshire conducted a telephone survey of 1,500 teenagers ages 10 to 17 that investigates their exposure to pornography online. Findings include:

• 42% said they had seen online pornography in a recent 12 month span.
  >> 66% of those teens said they did not want to view the images and had not sought them out
• 33%+ of 16 & 17 year old boys said they had intentionally visited X-rated sites in the past year
• 8% of 16 & 17 year old girls said they had intentionally visited X-rated sites in the past year

Researcher Janis Wolak suggests that such exposure also could distort teenagers’ perceptions about what constitutes a healthy sexual relationship, which is why youth ministries cannot become lax in stressing the importance of abstinence and educating teens on how to maintain healthy relationships.