School porn is a growing problem. It refers to any type of pornography that is easily accessible to students on school grounds. This can include everything from magazines and videos to websites and social media.
Studies have shown that exposure to this type of material can lead to serious problems down the road, including addiction, mental health issues, and even criminal behaviour. As teachers and educators, it's important that we are aware of this issue and take steps to protect our students from becoming exposed to it.
The dangers of school porn
Across the world, the internet has become a means of communication and entertainment for people of all ages. While it is an invaluable asset to many, it also poses potential risks, especially when it comes to accessing porn at school.
Without proper advice and guidance on the topic, students are vulnerable to exposure to potentially disturbing and/or illegal material, not to mention the hazards of sexting. Such activities can bring shame and embarrassment, as well as cyberbullying.
Additionally, students can face criminal charges or other legal repercussions if caught viewing content or engaging in activities that are deemed inappropriate or unlawful. Pornography can also communicate toxic messages around topics related to human sexuality, gender equity, sexual morality, and sexual aggression among others. Continuous exposure to these messages desensitizes viewers to these issues and normalizes the distorted images pornography communicates.
For instance, in their research on aggression in mainstream pornography, researchers Fritz et al., found out that aggression against women is common in online pornography and these acts of aggression are usually depicted with no repercussions.
Being repeatedly exposed to such narratives carry the risk of wiring teens' cognition to accept them as mainstream cultural acts. It is therefore important for schools, teachers, and parents to educate teens on the danger of school porn.
How to protect teens from school porn
Keeping your teens safe from explicit material can be a challenge, especially with the prevalence of online pornography. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent them from encountering it in school and limit their exposure to harmful content more generally. Here are few tips to consider:
1. Talk to your children’s teachers and administrators and make sure they are aware of potential risks posed by technology usage. Ask them about safety policies and cybersecurity measures in place that help protect against inappropriate content.
2. Install filtering software on home computers or computers used outside of school, as well as monitoring tools if needed. You could also consider blocking certain websites that may contain explicit content or opting for a child-friendly web browser.
3. Educate your children about how to use the internet safely, such as avoiding suspicious links or never sharing personal information with strangers. Google's Be Internet Awesome offers tons of educational materials to use with kids and students to help them navigate the web in a safe and confident way.
4. Porn literacy
A number of public health experts, psychologists, and sex educators consider porn literacy as a good preemptive measure to the problem of school porn. The purpose of porn literacy is to enable teens to think critically about pornography, discuss its implications, and come up with strategies to disrupt the distorted images it communicates.
Porn literacy involves opening up teens to what can be viewed by many adults as uncomfortable conversations. Still, as Lindsay Orchowski, a psychologist at Brown University noted, whether you see it uncomfortable or not, a growing number of adolescents are already watching pron.
In fact, a report on teens' engagement with online porn published by Common Sense Media states that some of the respondents (ages 13-17) confirmed that they had seen pornography by age 10 or even younger and that some of them have watched it intentionally and repeatedly.
Discussing porn in schools is what a group of sex education experts have advocated for teachers. As the BBC reported, these experts argue that "not all pornography is bad" and that "teachers should actively discuss it with their pupils."
What to do if your child is exposed to school porn
If your child is exposed to school porn, it can be a tough situation for both you and your child to handle. Discussing it openly with them in a safe and non-judgmental environment is important.
Reassure them that this type of exposure is not their fault, and help them process any reactions they may have. A respectful dialogue will help create a sense of trust while providing necessary education on the topic. If you are unsure of how to approach the subject or feel your child needs further support, seeking help from a mental health professional or school counsellor can be beneficial.
Conclusion
School porn is a growing problem that parents need to be aware of. There are steps you can take to protect your children, including talking to them about healthy sexuality, monitoring their internet use, and being open and honest with them if they are exposed to pornography. If you suspect your child has been exposed to school porn, resources are available to help you talk to them about it and get them the support they need. By taking action to protect your children, you can help keep them safe from potentially harmful material.
This post originally appeared in Educational Technology and Mobile Learning ( www.educatorstechnology.com ).
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