Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a veteran juvenile probation officer (PO) and what I discovered was shocking. Did you know that viewing porn was more addictive to young minds than drugs and access to porn is easier and cheaper than buying drugs?
Both issues astounded me. Porn is being accessed on kids’ personal phones. It’s easy. Simply log into a porn site and click a button saying you are 18 years or older.
Porn is being passed from one person to the next and the next. Usually boys “wanting to be big shots” will show other students. They get the web address and pass it along to the next.
The officer says the porn being viewed is often times the “most vile of the vile.” Soon the young student starts thinking…”rather than just watching….I wonder what it would be like to actually do it?”
These young boys ‘know they shouldn’t be doing this. They know that it is wrong. A common conception with these boys is “Man…if Mom or Dad ever found out, they would scream and yell at me; maybe I would even be spanked; and for sure I would be grounded for over a month!”
The reality is … depending upon the circumstances, these boys could be arrested; charged with rape; be sent to juvenile detention centers. They would also be required to register as a sex offender for 5-plus years. Their young lives could be destroyed!
School principals: Talk to all of your teachers and address this problem in your curriculums. Teachers: Talk to the parents. They need to know what is taking place every day at school.
Parents: Grab your kids’ phones and add blocks on the phone to prevent them from accessing inappropriate websites.
Do a Google search on “blocking porn sites.” Hundreds of sites pop up showing how to block porn on cellphones. It appears to be relatively easy.
Young minds today are being subjected to drugs, alcohol, and now porn at a far greater intensity than ever in the past. Parents need to do everything possible to guide their children through this very tumultuous time of their lives. Love them, hug them, and tell them of the perils they face today. They will be forever grateful for your guidance.
Dale Luger
Centralia
