At the age at which children are beginning to learn to multiply and divide, age 9, many enter the sordid world of pornography. And no, they do not do it voluntarily, because at that age their concerns are different. They usually do it accidentally (30%), through smartphones, with advertising that arrives unexpectedly. At the click of a button. It's there, it's accessible and free. Parents are not aware of it, far from it (75% are unaware of it).
Just as they are also unaware that, between 13 and 15, half of kids watch porn online. And they do it on a regular basis. Nothing stops you, there are the platforms open to everything and everyone.
The problem? That the little ones are not able to assimilate what they are seeing. They are images that are too strong for their minds to process what those violent images show. And, what's more, they do it alone, without accompaniment, digesting it as best they can, explains Alejandro Villena, psychologist and clinical director at the Give it a ride association. What they see can distort minors' perception of sexuality or promote inappropriate and harmful behavior in childhood, he says.
40% of adolescent boys and 20% of girls are at risk of becoming addicted to pornography, says Villena, who cares for minors with this type of problem. “Pornography consumption can generate a distorted sexual desire, which leads to dissatisfaction, complexes and dysfunctions. In some cases, over time, it can alter brain structures due to its addictive component,” says Jorge Gutiérrez, director of Give it a ride.
“We are shocked by sexual assaults, group rapes... but we do nothing, neither politicians, nor society, nor parents,” says Gutiérrez.
To put a stop to “this public health problem,” as the Dale una Vuelta team defines it, yesterday they presented the Generation XXX campaign, supported by the Spanish Office of the European Parliament, in which they demand “measures to effectively verify the age of access to adult content platforms.”
“We demand that our political representatives take responsibility and address this issue decisively. We call for the further development of the necessary legislation and effective mechanisms that force adult content platforms to verify the age of users. We cannot allow the lack of control to continue exposing our minors to inappropriate and dangerous content for their mental and emotional health,” they point out.
Because, what do minors see on these websites? The most in-demand categories in current porn are: revenge porn, group rapes, degradation and incest. And these pages contain: 94% violence directed at women, 89% physical attacks, 95% show aggression as something pleasurable and half, verbal attacks.
The consequences of porn consumption at an early age are serious, they say. Many develop behaviors that trivialize, eroticize, legitimize and normalize violence. Also, a distorted sexual desire that can lead to sexual dissatisfaction, complexes and dysfunction. Lack of empathy and vision of women as a mere object for personal satisfaction, among others.
Gutiérrez urges to stop minors' access and it must be done now. There is sufficient legislation (Spanish and EU) that requires age verification and many others that will come from Europe. But it must be done now to protect children, the future of society.
