Introduction

In the last three decades, there has been a massive increase in the number of young people who access pornography platforms. Different platforms display pornography images or videos, including magazines, internet websites, and DVD videos. Internet websites are the highly visited platform for pornography among the young in South Africa.

Pornography among Adolescent individuals in South Africa 

Most teenage boys worldwide deal with compulsive internet use and compulsive behaviour connected to online pornography and cybersex. South Africa is no exception regarding the problem faced by male adolescents from other nations. According to Film and Publication Board in South Africa, 64% per cent of minors between the ages of 13 and 17 in South Africa have access to pornographic websites. Online pornography originating in South Africa is technically illegal according to Internet, Film and Publication Board, but people turn to cross that law since it’s not monitored. The reasons for illegalizing pornography in South Africa are the difficulty of age verification and the requirement that pornography only be distributed from designated, licensed physical premises.

According to the survey undertaken by The Youth Research Unit at the Bureau of Market Research, more than 30% of school children in Gauteng alone had been enticed into online sex conversations without their will. Transitions Treatment Centre in Johannesburg counsellors have seen an average yearly increase of 10% to 30% in clients exhibiting indications of porn addiction. 

Consequences of Pornography among the Youth

The use of pornography by adolescents is associated with stronger permissive sexual attitudes (e.g., premarital sex, casual sex). Pornography is also associated with unsafe sexual health practices, such as not using condoms and unsafe anal and vaginal sex. Pornography may strengthen attitudes supportive of sexual violence and violence against women. Adolescents who consume violent pornography are six times more likely to be sexually aggressive than those who view non-violent pornography or no pornography. Lastly, exposure to pornography leads to sexual illness and unplanned pregnancies.

Solutions to limit young individuals accessing porn websites

Parents should monitor their children’s behaviour just in case they start dressing in sexually attractive and manage the behaviour in the early stage. Internet websites should restrict children’s access to pornography images and videos, especially individuals who are under the age of 18 years.

Conclusion

Counselling plays a vital role in the prevention of young individuals accessing pornographic websites. Once a parent notice that his/her child is exposed to pornography, he/she should seek help quickly before the behaviour of the child gets off hand. The South African government should put tight regulations Do penalties for pornographic sites to limit exposure of pornographic images to kids.