The harmful effects of pornography use and addiction are well documented by science. As with most things in life, prevention is the most effective way to avoid ever having a problem with pornography.
The internet is a wonderful place to access information, read updated news, and connect with people from all over the world. Unfortunately, pornography on the internet is ubiquitous, and not always easy to avoid. Even people taking responsible steps to keep porn off their computer screen can sometimes stumble in it. The tips found in this article will help you protect yourself and your family online from inappropriate images and text.
Take steps to filter spam.
Spammers can make money if only one person out of thousands of people they send sexually explicit emails to click on their ads and pay for their services. Do everything you can to keep those emails from ever reaching your inbox. If you have allowed your children to have their own email accounts, filtering spam is the best way to ensure that inappropriate images are never accessible to them via email. A quick list of things you can do to get rid of spam includes:
Only give your email address to people you know and trust. Don’t put your personal email address on every mailing list or website that requests it. Many free email services exist today – set up a free account with one of them and use it to sign up for mailing lists.
Never click on any links in spam and if possible, avoid opening emails. Both of these actions confirm to the spammers that you are actively using your email account and that you will probably start receiving more spam.
Buy and use spam filters.
Many come packed with porn filters as well as other features that will help keep inappropriate content off your computer screen.
Be careful with your download. This should be a universal precaution that you take now every time you download something off the internet. Viruses, spyware, and pornography can easily be hidden in files you download – prevention in this case is much easier than fixing the problem once the files have landed on your hard drive. Only download files from sources you trust, and if you ever have any questions whether something is viral or pornographic, DO NOT download it.
Use a search engine to find websites.
Pornographers use domain names that are similar to popular websites or brands in the hope that people will type the address incorrectly and end up on their pornographic site. I know a kid who wants to find the code for his favorite video game, so he types in the name of the game and “.com.” He had the presence of mind to close the browser and notify his parents, but was still exposed to the material. One of the best ways to avoid this is to search for addresses on Google. Then you can preview the results in text only format before clicking the link to go to the page. Many popular search engines have built-in porn filters that you can adjust to control the types of content you don’t want appearing in search results. Others even offer a “for kids” version of their search engine that returns only pages deemed appropriate for children.
Use filtering software that includes pornographic filters. No matter how careful you are about the sites you visit, chances are good that one day you will accidentally come across a porn site. Porn filters will help ensure that inappropriate material is blocked when you or someone in your family stumbles on a pornographic website. Parents of boys who discover porn while searching for their favorite Nintendo games quickly install porn filters to ensure their son is protected in the future.
Avoid offline pornography.
Porn existed long before the internet. Bring your own built-in porn filter and avoid places that you know will have inappropriate pictures, movies or books to show. If your children are with you, be careful where they are in the shop. If you think there is a possibility that they may be able to access inappropriate material while you are shopping, let the store manager know of your concern. Chances are, you are not the only one worried about this issue, and real change can come from one person just talking.
Take appropriate precautions now to avoid pornography. If you or someone If you know you have a problem with pornography use or addiction, seek professional help. The problem of pornography does not only affect the individual who sees the image but everyone with whom that person interacts.