Anti-porn drive in schools is fear mongering - Dr Eve

An anti-pornography organisation has found an audience in SA schoolchildren. But clinical sexologist Dr Eve says such organisations are dangerous.

Johannesburg - An anti-pornography organisation has found an audience in South African schoolchildren.

The American non-profit organisation, Fight the New Drug, was launched in this country in 2014 and has done presentations at 16 schools, including one in Gauteng, the Pretoria School for Children with Cerebral Palsy. The other schools are in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, and include several boys’ and religious schools.

“Because the brain is most susceptible during these teen years to the chemical overload that comes with continued viewing (of porn), addiction is a real danger,” said Taryn Lourens, Fight the New Drug's South African co-ordinator.

“Unfortunately for learners, schools have few, if any, resources dedicated to preventing this problem, one that can lead to depression, isolation and academic struggles.”

According to the organisation, porn-related searches comprise nearly 25 percent of all online searches, and 93 percent of boys and 62 percent of girls view porn before the age of 18.

“Though most teens have seen it, few know how addictive it is,” Lourens said. “What is concerning is that many are being taught at school or by the media that it is normal, even healthy, to watch it.”

But clinical sexologist Dr Marlene Wasserman - better known as Dr Eve - said such organisations were dangerous.

“It’s really distressing that they are submitting to fear-based organisations and fear mongering. We should not deny schoolchildren the opportunity to be informed about porn,” she said.

Wasserman said young people needed to learn how to manage porn and understand how it fitted into their sexual life.

Lourens said that at the presentations, her husband shares his porn-addiction story and encourages “radical action” to kick the habit, including breaking phones or computers.

olivia.exstrum@inl.co.za

@OliviaExstrum

The Star