We love the Internet, we take it with us almost everywhere. It is a useful resource for information, a great medium for enabling communications and it is universal.
But!
There is a dark side to this great technology. It’s called PORN. And if the statistics tell us anything, it is a very real danger.
Protect Love. Stop Porn.
Today, 68% of young adult men and 18% of women use porn at least once every week. Another 17% of men and another 30% of women use porn 1-2 times per month. This means for 85% of young men and nearly half of young women, watching porn is at least a monthly activity.
It is also becoming more common for young adults to make their own pornography. Nearly 1 in 5 of 18-24-year-olds have sent a sext (sexually explicit text message). This has become a predictor of sexual behaviour. Students who have had sexual intercourse are five times more likely than virgins to be involved in sexting.
Online interactions leave kids open to all sorts of dangers. Your kids need your help for how to stay safe online, and we’re here to help you do that.
Download this free e-book today to learn practical tips about the online tools your kids use (like Facebook and YouTube) and how to parent them wisely on the Internet.
Is the Church any different?
Not by much.
Pornography is prevalent everywhere today. In fact, one in eight online searches is for pornography. Because porn use thrives in secrecy, many church members are trapped in a cycle of sin and shame, thinking that they’re the only ones facing this temptation.
51% of pastors say Internet pornography is a possible temptation.
50% of all Christian men and 20% of all christian women say they are addicted to pornography.
75% of pastors do not make themselves accountable to anyone for their Internet use.
Regular church attendees are 26% less likely to look at porn, however, self-identified “fundamentalists” are 91% more likely to look at porn.
So what can I do about it?
Start the conversation today! Either with your spouse, a good friend, your pastor or parents. It is essential that we start talking about how we can help remove the temptation. Once you start talking the next step is pretty easy. Covenant Eyes is a software program that can provide Internet Filtering to block inappropriate web content on all of your devices. It helps you stay clear of the temptation.
And if you too smart for your own good, then you can also sign up for the Covenant eyes Internet Accountability that tracks websites you visit on your computers, smart phones, and tablets, and sends them in an easy-to-read report to someone you trust. This makes it easy to talk about the temptations you face online.