The massive spread of pornography on the Internet represents a great dilemma that deserves more attention and search for serious solutions, as society cannot remain silent in light of the dangers threatening children and adolescents as a result of addiction to such films.

In a report published by the American magazine Newsweek, writer Terry Schilling says that the pornographic film industry has witnessed a significant increase over the past few decades. From 1988 to 2005, the number of films produced annually increased from 1,300 to 13,000.

The writer adds that the rate of spread of this type of films increased with the spread of the Internet.

The numbers for the highest-viewed porn site on the Internet indicate that 1.36 million hours of new content were downloaded in 2019, an average of more than 24 hours of content every 10 minutes.

According to some estimates, the total value of the porn industry is currently around $ 100 billion, uses more bandwidth than Facebook and Amazon, and has more viewed sites than Netflix.

In 2019, 1.36 million hours of popular porn sites were downloaded (Getty Images)

The disadvantages of pornography

This spread, according to the author, began in 2006 when video sites that provided an endless stream of free pornographic content appeared.

With the advent of the smartphone, accessing these materials is now easier and faster, and the current generations are consuming more pornography than ever before.

The writer confirms that one of the consequences of the spread of this industry is the shocking rise in the number of people addicted to pornographic sites and films.

For example, surveys show that 60% or more of teens and college students admit to watching pornography at least once a week.

The writer adds that pornography has become more violent, as a study published in 2016 indicated that "the dominant commercial pornography has become mainly centered around violence and the decline of female values."

Other studies have found that 88% of the most popular pornographic videos contain physical violence, and 49% of them contain verbal abuse.

The writer quotes a social worker who studies cases of a number of children (between 9 and 11 years old) who committed sexual assaults, that the only thing they have in common is watching pornography on the Internet.

The social worker said that these children have become so addicted that they stay up all night browsing porn sites on their mobile phones.

Many times the parents have no idea how easy it is for a child to access these sites.

And in 2016 academic research of a number of studies conducted over a 20-year period showed that adolescents who watch pornography were more likely to adopt aggressive sexual behaviors, especially females.

Other research in 135 studies found evidence that viewing pornography leads to body dissatisfaction, self-objectification, adoption of a number of hostile sexual behaviors and beliefs, and tolerance for sexual violence towards women.

Other studies have also linked these materials to an increase in marital problems, the prevalence of extramarital relationships, divorce, separation, and sexual resentment.

Teens who view pornography are more likely to adopt aggressive sexual behaviors (German News Agency)

Protect children from pornographic content

One of the most alarming things, according to the author, is that the growth of the pornographic film industry has directly led to the rise in the rates of exploitation of women and children through sex trafficking.

In a recent letter to the Ministry of Justice, Republican Senator Ben Saz documented material produced by one of the most popular pornographic sites that shows "women and girls being raped and exploited."

According to the author, the proliferation of these materials on the Internet and the increasing number of addicts to them have become alarming consequences.

In this context, 16 US states declared that the spread of pornography has become a public health crisis.

However, some claim - as the writer says - including "conservatives", that there is no governmental solution to this dilemma.

Others argue that lawmakers cannot do anything because pornography is legal under US laws.

He adds that the makers of pornographic content know more than others that these materials reach children, but they do nothing about it.

For example, one of the most important companies specializing in the production and display of pornographic films refuses to adopt any system to verify the age of users who download its materials.

The solution is to confront Internet companies that protect pornographic sites, and hold them civil responsible for the content posted on their platforms.