EDITORIAL

The Scourge of Pornography

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A recent report in the British Guardian, quoting an American study, revealed that millennials are less sexually active than previous generations. It seems that sexual activity among millennials is also on the downtrend in Britain and Sweden. Probably to the surprise of some researchers, they concluded based on the data that abstinence benefits these young people both socially and psychologically.

Not surprisingly, the study found the less that young people view pornography, the less likely they are to engage in sexual behavior. On the one hand, it is good news that this study finds less sexual activity among millennials; On the other hand, the scourge of pornography only continues to increase across the globe.

Today, pornography is accessible by the click of a button. Young people (and adults) are able to access it privately on their phones, tablets or computers. Sadly, pornography addiction is often found in children even before they reach their teenage years.

The harmful effects of pornography are legion and even science concurs. Pornography literally changes the wiring of the brain and makes the virtual world more real to the user than the real world. Pornography causes people to isolate. It demeans the human person, especially women; at its worst, it causes sexual abuse.

Society as a whole must realize that nothing good comes from pornography. The government requires warning labels on all sorts of things that can be harmful, alcohol and cigarettes among them. Maybe this same action could be a positive incremental step towards the eradication of pornography.