Many people are not aware of how readily available pornography is. There is a common misconception that, in order for porn to find you, you have to be looking for it. If pornography shows up in your search results, someone must have been looking for porn before you or you searched for something bad.
That is not always the case, though.
I found pornography entirely by accident. What started as homework in 1999 quickly became one of the most defining moments of my life. I was just two clicks away from hardcore pornography. One. Two. Innocence gone.
That’s how easily it can happen to you or to your children. That’s how quickly they can be exposed, or how quickly you can fall back into old habits.
Porn Around Every Corner
In fact, I want to propose the idea that at any given moment you are likely three simple clicks away from pornography. Would you look at things differently if you believed me?
I recently received a brand new computer—no search history to speak of, no cookies stored, no “common search terms,” no viruses. I started with a “blank” computer and began to do my usual browsing, Facebook chatting, etc.
My cousin and I were talking about a popular store chain with a special toys that played music. I went to YouTube to see what she was talking about. I typed in the name of the store chain and the name of the toys. The first two results were exactly what I was looking for. Number 8 in the “related videos” was a full-length adult movie.
I was recently searching for graphics for my blog, Beggar’s Daughter. I accessed a popular creative commons page and typed in the name of an everyday object, not sexual by any means. I was greeted with multiple inappropriate shots of women.
While searching for a link to a video, I typed the name of the producer into a search bar. She does not produce sexual material, yet the results screen was filled with adult movies. Many of the thumbnails were themselves pornographic.
All of these sites are free and opened to the unregistered public. I did not have to sign up for an account or sign in to access any of this content. It was just there—readily available.
Virtual Red Light District
Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr—many of my readers cite these as the sources for their pornography. They are just clicks away from feeds or pages filled with erotic content. Adults-only signs never stopped anyone.
Related: The Red Light District in Your 8-Year-Old’s Room
When you “step foot” into the online world, you have essentially walked into a red light district. Yes, you may be there on business. You may have honest intentions, but never forget the pervasive nature of the world that surrounds you. Be proactive in protecting those you love. Do not assume that they won’t or can’t find pornography. Do not assume pornography cannot find them. Regardless of their intentions, it could be just three clicks away.