Pornography can be an uncomfortable topic to talk about with your children, but it doesn't have to be!
The presence of pornography on the internet and social media has become more prominent over the years, so while it may be an uncomfortable subject, it's one that should be talked about. For example, CNBC recently reported that "a new legal filing about child exploitation on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram apps alleges a 2021 internal company estimate found as many as 100,000 children every day received sexual harassment, such as pictures of adult genitalia, on the platforms." Educating and warning your children about the dangers of pornography is a way to help keep them safe.
Below are seven practical tips from Defend Young Minds on how to talk about pornography with your kids. Their mission is to "educate, encourage and equip parents, professionals and community leaders to defend young minds from the harms of pornography."
- Be prepared with facts
- Ditch the discomfort and shame
- Start talking to them early
- Give age-appropriate definitions
- Give them reasons to reject pornography
- Create a response plan for if/when they stumble upon pornography
- Continue to have conversations about pornography with your child
To read more in depth on these great tips, click HERE!