Peer-reviewed article
Regain Consciousness: The Impact of Internet Pornography on Children And Adolescents – A Review
Lee CJ B. Andamon, Ivan Hope O. Bacote, Kaye G. Estampa, Lovie Jean G. Sabuero, Genesis Gregorious Genelza ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This systematic literature review examines how internet pornography affects children and adolescents. The authors identify four main themes: emotional and behavioral issues, lack of parental involvement in digital literacy, unhealthy sexual behaviors from excessive consumption, and psychological and developmental harms. The review concludes that teaching internet literacy in schools and encouraging extracurricular activities can help protect young people from pornography's negative effects.
Key points
- Excessive pornography consumption distorts children's and adolescents' perceptions of relationships, intimacy, and body image
- Normalization of pornographic content reinforces gender stereotypes and unhealthy views on sex with long-term psychological consequences
- Parents often lack engagement in digital literacy and online safety education for children and adolescents
- Teaching internet literacy and safe online behaviors in schools helps young people identify unsafe content and make informed decisions
- Participation in extracurricular activities reduces young people's dependency on explicit content and improves emotional well-being
Limitations
This is a review of existing literature rather than original research, so it does not provide new empirical data on the magnitude of effects or which interventions are most effective. The document does not specify which countries or populations were included in the reviewed studies, limiting understanding of geographic or demographic applicability.
Abstract
Excessive pornography consumption may distort children's and adolescent's perceptions of relationships, intimacy, and body image, fostering unrealistic expectations that contribute to confusion and dissatisfaction. The normalization of such content can also lead to the reinforcement of gender stereotypes and unhealthy views on sex, which may have long-term psychological consequences. This systematic literature review aimed to identify the impact of internet pornography on children and adolescents. The review attained and identified four themes: Showing Emotional and Behavioral Issues, Lacking Parental Engagement in Digital Literacy and Online Safety for Children and Adolescents, Promoting Unhealthy Sexual Behaviors due to Excessive Porn Consumption, and Addressing the Psychological and Developmental Effects of Internet Pornography. Teaching internet literacy and safe online behaviors in schools is critical, as it prepares learners to navigate the digital world responsibly, identify unsafe content, and make educated media consumption decisions. Encouraging participation in extracurricular activities is also healthier as it fosters friendships, teamwork, and a feeling of purpose. When young people are included and valued within an environment, they are less likely to seek approval from pornography, lowering their dependency on explicit content and improving their emotional well-being.