September 2023: Studying the Link Between Pornography and Child Sexual Abuse

Culture Reframed is the premier science-based, global organization working to stop the emotional, behavioral, and sexual harms of pornography to children and youth. Join our online community to receive updates on our work, announcements of upcoming events, and the latest news related to pornography and youth.

Dear Friends,

September is Sexual Health Month, and as good a reason as any to have important conversations with tweens and teens about their sexual health.

For young people, sexual health is a critical topic and one that can have a profound impact on their emotional and physical health. Young adults experience many firsts at this critical point in their lives — from puberty to learning about sex to being exposed to porn. While the topic may be uncomfortable, the conversations are critical.

Our online resources and upcoming virtual event, The Impact of Pornography on Young People: Research, Practice, and Solutions, are designed to educate parents, caregivers, and professionals who work with young people about digital wellness and the potential harms of hypersexualized content and help guide these important conversations.

This month’s newsletter highlights our latest articles, including a Q&A with Dr. Jennifer Johnson, who studies pornography’s impact on young people, a roundup of celebrities using their platform to speak out against pornography, and an article from Culture Reframed’s Founder & President Dr. Gail Dines about the impact of age verification laws going into effect across the U.S.

Dr. Jennifer A. Johnson is a Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at Virginia Tech. Her work analyzes the relationship between pornography consumption, sexual health, and sexual victimization among early adolescents. In this interview, Dr. Johnson shares the most important findings of her research, her advice for caregivers of children and adolescents based on what she’s learned through this project, and how Culture Reframed’s Dr. Gail Dines inspired her work.

Join us Thursday, November 16 for “The Impact of Pornography on Young People: Research, Practice, and Solutions.” Together, we will explore the many harms of pornography to children with a focus on child sexual abuse. Featuring doctors, psychologists, and front-line child protection professionals, attendees will develop a clear understanding of:

• The many harmful effects of porn on developing minds;
• How porn influences child sexual assault; and
• What you can do to help.

In an era when the internet has made sexually explicit content easily accessible and hypersexualized media is everywhere, a growing number of celebrities are using their platforms to raise awareness about the potential harms of pornography, particularly its impact on children and teenagers. Read about prominent figures who have spoken out against the dangers of pornography and its accessibility, aligning with Culture Reframed’s mission to create a healthier digital environment for young minds.

The Telegraph: The fightback against ‘Big Porn’ has only just begun

What can a sex-positive feminist and a Republican lawmaker agree on? The harms of the pornography industry. In a new article for The Telegraph, Culture Reframed’s Founder & President, Dr. Gail Dines, discusses how the fight against “Big Porn” is a bi-partisan issue and the role she’s played in support of age-verification bills.

Video games are fun, as any tween or teen will surely tell you. But that may be a problem, and not only because kids spend upwards of 9 hours daily in front of screens. It’s a problem because young people aren’t the only ones logged into games — so are predators and the porn industry.

Talking To Your Child About Online Pornography Exposure

At what age do you talk to your child about online pornography exposure, and how do you do it in a way that is developmentally appropriate? (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Ban Online Porn For Kids | Opinion

“We’re overdue for another cleanup of our public spaces. But this time the work to be done is not on city streets but in the wilds of the online universe.” (New York Times)

I Had a Helicopter Mom. I Found Pornhub Anyway.

Porn is not content. It’s a substance. And it must be controlled like one, argues 16-year-old Isabel Hogben. (The Free Press)

Too much too young: I talked to 10,000 children about pornography. Here are 10 things I learned

Between 2016 and 2022, writer Abbey Wright spoke to around 10,000 children and young people aged between six and 22 about the impact of pornography on their lives. (The Guardian)

Perspective: OnlyFans’ soft prostitution is ruining lives in real time

Women who have left the platform are speaking out and say the money isn’t worth the degradation. (Deseret News)

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