Protecting children is an important aspect of being a parent. One of my most significant responsibilities as a parent is to look ahead to the risks and dangers that threaten my family. This plays itself out in many ways, from making sure doors and windows are secure before I go to bed to pointing out ushers and security personnel at hockey games so my kids know who to approach if we get separated. But some threats are much more insidious. The rise in use of digital pornography, which is readily accessible to anyone at any age, stands out to me as a clear and present danger to my family.
Fight the New Drug is a research-based site pulling together science, facts, and personal stories to help people understand the damage caused by pornography use and addiction. FTND describes in detail the ways in which pornography harms the mind, the heart, and the world at large—and it’s all backed with research and statistics from a variety of sources.
One of the biggest differences in pornography usage today versus 20 or 30 years ago is how the Internet and our handheld devices have made it so much more readily available. While many developers have made an effort to create filters for pornography, these tend either to filter out too much content or not nearly enough. This is where Covenant Eyes comes in. For a monthly fee, this software can help us keep an eye on what our kids are consuming or give us the means to allow others to hold us accountable.
There are a lot of conversations that are intimidating but necessary for us to have with our kids. Talking to them about pornography is one of them. This is why Kristen Jensen’s Good Pictures, Bad Pictures has been a tremendous support. It’s a book you can read with your kids on this difficult topic that includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter alongside solid research and an action plan for moments when they see pornographic material.
