Sunday, March 30, 2014

Internet Pornography

By: Mekenzie Enloe

          Internet pornography is a massive industry in America and the fact that looking up the lascivious photos and videos is as easy as “1, 2, 3” means that the viewing audience is getting younger and the practice is becoming more addictive. Some may argue that there are no ramifications to pornography, but I believe that the consequences are massive. This “satisfying” habit is causing more issues than one for Americans, young and old.
            Most people believe that pornography serves as a way to relieve their sexual desires…and it may be, but what they fail to recognize is the addictive nature to pornography and the things that it does to the brain. What if I told you that drugs and pornography are on the same level? Normal people would look at me like I am crazy, but studies have proven that the same chemical the brain releases when people use drugs (dopamine) is the same chemical released when someone looks at provocative images.  Even more so than this, the tolerance built from use of drugs happens with use of pornography, leaving users wanting worse and more each time they use it.[1] A large ordeal is made when people become addicted to drugs, but if pornography is harming the brain in the same way should we not care about this just as well?
            Internet pornography is a fairly new industry with the first exchange of Internet pornography being done in the 1980s through a program known as Usenet.[2] Since this time the industry has taken off like crazy and to the astonishment of parents, about 40% of tweens and teens visit a porn site.[3] It only takes on mistake to bring young children to these immoral sites. For example, if a child typed in “Dick’s” wanting to go to the sporting goods website, they may get results that lead to questions and desires. This is one of the many reasons that Internet pornography, being so easily accessed, is a threat to society.
            Beyond these two issues, Internet pornography causes a series of other problems such as depression, apathy towards work, wasted money and a longing to control their surroundings.[4] Why is an industry making so much money given the downfalls to usage? It all comes back to the first point and the damaging aspect to the brain and ability to turn from the desire. It is time to make people known of the negative aspects to this industry because I believe that knowledge is the first step in making the right choice. 



[1] Fight the New Drug, "Porn is Like a Drug." Accessed March 30, 2014. http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/
[2] Campbell-Kelly, M., & Aspray, W. (1996), Computer: A History of the Information Machine, New York: Basic Books.
[3] DeAngelis, Tori. American Psychological Association, "Web pornograph'ys effect on children." Last modified NOVEMBER 2007, Accessed March 30, 2014, http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov07/webporn.aspx.
[4] Crystal Moore, "Sexual Commerce in Contemporary America." (unpublished lecture., University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2014).

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