The Problem of Porn during a Pandemic
Recently, I recorded a series of parent trainings for Facebook. The first one was called “The Technology Takeover”, and addressed the ways that technology is taking over our lives during this COVID-19 pandemic. From school and work calls on Zoom to Facetime conversations with grandparents, we are all spending much more time on technology than we were before the coronavirus outbreak. The second video was about the problem of online pornography and the easy availability of porn to kids and teens. Both
Just after I uploaded the two training videos to YouTube, something interesting happened. One of the videos began to get views, which was strange, because we hadn’t told anyone that the videos were uploaded. Even more odd was that only one of the videos was getting viewed, and the other wasn’t being viewed at all. It turns out that the reason one video was being viewed was a word in the title. “Porn”. In the first few hours of being on YouTube, with no advertising, over 100 people found the “Problem with Porn” training video. However, it wasn’t because they were parents seeking training. They were YouTubers seeking actual porn. The average view was 6 seconds…just long enough to see the Engage logo and the title screen, and for a viewer to realize that the video was, in fact, not porn. I was encouraged by the fact that a few people watched up until the 15-minute mark!
According to the Associated Press, alcohol sales in the US are up 55% since the beginning of the pandemic, and marijuana sales are up 20%. Likewise, pornography websites have seen a surge in site visits as well as a spike in sales. Many sites are also marketing specifically to those in quarantine by offering free trials and discounts. The National Review reports that the largest porn website offered free trials to people in Italy, France, and Spain at the beginning of their lockdowns. They saw an increase in user traffic by 57% in Italy, 38% in France, and 61% in Spain.
Why am I sharing these demoralizing statistics with you? Because I want you to realize that the “vice industry” is on the offensive, and as you and your kids are spending more time online, you are at an increased risk of being exposed to pornography by the companies that are aggressively marketing that content. Now, more than ever, you need to have some type of content blocker or filter on the devices that your family members are using.
Not sure where to start? Pick one of the following tools. Some are free, some are not. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. However, any one of them is a huge step forward if you aren’t using anything for content filtering or blocking at the moment.
Suggested Content Filters
- The Parental Controls on the mobile device
- Disney Circle
- Covenanteyes.com
- Bark.us
- Famisafe.com
- Net Nanny.com
- XXXchurch.com
Proverbs 4:23 has some critically important advice for us in this area of life and parenting:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
Guarding something requires vigilance and a readiness to act. It’s not a passive activity, but one that takes an aggressive stance. The same is true for guarding the heart of our family. We need to be vigilant and ready to act on their behalf when we see danger coming their way. My prayer for your family and mine during this time is that we will work together to put Proverbs 4:23 into action to protect our families.
