Teen Cybersex Addiction
Most people think that these issues only impact adults in our society. Not so! We must begin to accept the fact that children and teens develop cybersex addiction as well—and more often than many realize. Unfortunately, most don’t seek help until much later in life after the addiction has resulted in chaos and crisis in their lives.
Many experts are predicting that cybersex addiction is the next “tsunami” of mental health. The impact is extensive and its effects are yet to be fully realized as cybersex behaviors is such a new issue and we have yet to see the outcomes on the current generation.
Consider a few of the statistics regarding teens and porn reported by Luke Gilkerson at Covenant Eyes in Teens and Porn: 10 Stats You Need to Know:
- 93% of boys and 62% of girls are exposed to internet pornography before the age of 18.
- 70% of boys have spent at least 30 consecutive minutes looking at on-line porn on at least one occasion.
- 35% of boys have done this on at least ten occasions.
- 83% of boys have seen group sex on the internet.
- 67% of children admit to clearing their internet history to hide their online activity.
- 70% of young men age 18-24 visit pornographic websites on at least a monthly basis.
- 0% of pornography users report being addicted.
Internet porn and cybersex activities supply a speedy and easily accessed “hit,” thus changing the erotic template of the brain. Its use has a drug-like effect on the body and mind. It stimulates reward and pleasure centers of the brain instantly and dramatically, increasing the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with both sexual arousal and drug highs.
Pornography and cybersex can also lead to “process addiction” in which the person becomes addicted to a set of behaviors that in turn powerfully alter brain chemistry. In time, the user can’t control his or her use.
If you or your teen is looking for help with a cybersex addiction, please reach out to us.