Post by blaze on Feb 5, 2007 15:31:23 GMT -5
www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/27335.html
CHICAGO - A new study says that many US youngsters have viewed porn either intentionally or accidentally on the Internet. The study by researchers from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, said that most of the porn was viewed while the 10 to 17-year-olds were using file-sharing programs.
The report is based on a telephone survey of 1,500 U.S. youngsters conducted in 2005 between March and June. The time span covered was 12 months prior to the survey. Overall 42 percent report viewing porn on the web, but among them 66 percent said they were not looking for it.
This accidental viewing was attributed to pop-up advertisements, spam or even mis-spelled web addresses. Of the remaining third in the survey, those likely to seek out porn were teenage boys who were either suffering from depression or used the Internet at their friends' homes. They also used file-sharing programs and chatted to strangers about sex.
"Although there is evidence that most youth are not particularly upset when they encounter unwanted pornography on the Internet (it) could have a greater impact on some youth than voluntary encounters with pornography," the study said.
Researchers said that more filtering and blocking software needs to be used to block out these unwanted sites. "Some youth may be psychologically and developmentally unprepared for unwanted exposure, and online images may be more graphic and extreme than pornography available from other sources," they added.
The study also said that while some instances may be attributed to normal curiosity of the part of the youth, it might result in promiscuity or compulsive behavior.
The study appears in the February issue of Pediatrics, which is the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
CHICAGO - A new study says that many US youngsters have viewed porn either intentionally or accidentally on the Internet. The study by researchers from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, said that most of the porn was viewed while the 10 to 17-year-olds were using file-sharing programs.
The report is based on a telephone survey of 1,500 U.S. youngsters conducted in 2005 between March and June. The time span covered was 12 months prior to the survey. Overall 42 percent report viewing porn on the web, but among them 66 percent said they were not looking for it.
This accidental viewing was attributed to pop-up advertisements, spam or even mis-spelled web addresses. Of the remaining third in the survey, those likely to seek out porn were teenage boys who were either suffering from depression or used the Internet at their friends' homes. They also used file-sharing programs and chatted to strangers about sex.
"Although there is evidence that most youth are not particularly upset when they encounter unwanted pornography on the Internet (it) could have a greater impact on some youth than voluntary encounters with pornography," the study said.
Researchers said that more filtering and blocking software needs to be used to block out these unwanted sites. "Some youth may be psychologically and developmentally unprepared for unwanted exposure, and online images may be more graphic and extreme than pornography available from other sources," they added.
The study also said that while some instances may be attributed to normal curiosity of the part of the youth, it might result in promiscuity or compulsive behavior.
The study appears in the February issue of Pediatrics, which is the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
