In 2015 alone, people consumed four billion hours of pornographic content and over 50 per cent did so from their smartphones. The porn industry has never had it this good and this is basically because mobile technology has made it so easy to access porn freely and conveniently. Do you know that it is estimated that one third of the entire Internet traffic is pornography related?
In fact, what fuelled the need to write this piece is a recent experience I had. I walked into the office of an elderly acquaintance whom I have a cordial relationship with. Although he said hello, I noticed he was engrossed with his phone. I moved closer and there he was on a porn site. He did not even bother to shift ground. So, I said hello again and hurriedly left the office.
Walking out of his office, I asked myself; if this guy who has given birth to a teenager spends his time consuming porn, what then does he expect from his ward? I bet you that in today’s world, anyone who frequents the Internet without aim and purpose is simply a candidate for porn addiction.
I remember carrying out a private research a few years ago and I discovered that at least 10 pornographic websites were among the top 100 websites that Nigerians visited. You heard me right; forget all the pretence.
We are a society that avoids the issue of sex or sex education like a plague, but because of my knowledge of the Internet, I believe we should start looking for innovative ways to protect our young minds from becoming porn addicts.
My focus in this piece is not exactly on adults, although my personal preference will be for everyone to stay off pornography, but then, I know that is impossible. So, I rather focus on bringing up the issues so that children and young teenagers do not become victims of pornography or become entangled in the vicious and complex world of porn and the kingpins behind them.
According to a 2015 BBC news report, 10 per cent of U.K. 12 and 13 year olds fear they are addicted to porn. Twelve per cent of 12-13 year olds admitted to participating in a sexually explicit video.
I know this is the part many parents will hate to admit, but the possibilities are real as long as you have rewarded your wards with an Internet enabled smart device.
You may say this is not the UK but Nigeria. If you ask anyone who understands the Nigerian ‘peculiar’ technology landscape, he or she will tell you that we usually leapfrog many other countries — Finish Reading on the Punch Website
