Private lives

How can I stop my teenage son's use of online pornography?

  • The Guardian,
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My 16-year-old son has disappeared into the bathroom several times with a laptop for extended periods of time. I know he has been looking at pornographic websites and, when asked, he freely admits it, putting it down to "a young man's needs". I know, and we discussed, lots of the arguments around the damaging pornification of society v the recognition/legalisation of the sex industry. However, on a personal level I feel that porn does harm to people who consume it and I want to discourage him. Am I being old-fashioned and heavy-handed, or, if not, how can I gently dissuade him, apart from saying that sex with real people is much more fun/rewarding?





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