“Can you hear me now?”
That iconic 2002 catchphrase catapulted Verizon as one of the leading wireless service companies in the world.
Now, that phrase is being used against the communications giant. Those who support human dignity are asking Verizon, “Can you hear us now?”
“Verizon bills itself as America’s largest communications network and that they’re ranked number one,” said Lisa Thompson, director of education and outreach for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “But today, we’re sad to say that they’re ranked among some of the 12 top offenders in terms of normalization of sexual exploitation.”
Verizon finds itself on the “Dirty Dozen List” for the third year in a row. It’s a project of NCOSE, used to name and shame organizations that use and profit from sexual exploitation.
Verizon makes revenue from dedicated pornographic channels and pay-per-view movies on its Fios TV service. It celebrates the themes of incest, rape, and the exploitation of young girls. It accentuates the petite bodies of “barely legal” 18-year-olds.
Verizon has said, “The explosion in choice is a tremendous benefit to consumers…”
“In this way, Verizon is very much catering to the sexual fantasies of its customers,” says Thompson. “Now not only does it provide this material, but it’s complicit in helping to cover it up and make sure that people who don’t want it be known that this is what they are consuming can do so with convenience. They tell customers (they advertise on almost every single page where this is offered) “movie titles do not appear on your bill.”
The wireless giant could be taking serious steps to curb the content of this sexual exploitation, but so far it has only renamed it.
“Verizon did have all of these child-themed and slavery-themed, rape-themed films,” said Dawn Hawkins, executive director of NCOSE. “And after it came out that they were offering these offensive titles, they changed the titles..now they’re saying that they’re ’18-year-olds,’ but the content of the films remains the same. The girls are made to look very young. And it’s very violent and degrading type of acts that are being depicted in these films.”
More than 8,300 people have already signed a petition to urge Verizon to stop pumping porn into homes.
In the United Kingdom, Verizon requires customers to opt-in for adult content. NCOSE is asking Verizon to do that for the American market.
To sign the petition, click here.
If you do not want to buy the product, don’t buy the product. It is that simple.
Why not legalize drugs and say the same thing? Nah, that’s just another way to stick your head in the sand. These folks know there’s a problem and are wanting to profit off of it, c’mon, those titles are so in your face. They are basically saying “we want to pander to those of you that are attracted to young teenage girls” you actually support the marketing of this trash from the point of view that it’s up to the purchaser?! Sad, so sad indeed.
I’d have to agree with the list of titles being inappropriate for CE. If I was in a support group I would have raised my hand after the first title as being “too graphic of a share”
That list of titles is very dangerous. Please take it off CE!
That list of titles can trigger temptations, just so you know.
Why is Verizon singled out here? How is them offering pornograpic channels and programs any different than any other tv service provider that does the same thing? Where’s the outrage against Directv, Dish, AT&T, Charter, Time Warner, ect.?
This is absolutely unbelievable. If the women that work for this company and support the “money” being made found out their husbands were viewing this material they would think their husbands were twisted perverts.
What in the world is going on! Why don’t they just say “We are trying to cater to child molesters and potential child molesters. What a freaking ticking time bomb! They are going to nurture the next child sexual predator in the comfort of his or her own home. I think another more disturbing part of this is the fact that they are seeing this to be a big hit. Give me a break, an 18 year old is still just a teenager. I know because mine have passed these impressionable years, they’re still maturing. What makes anyone think a number makes you an adult? Ted Bundy’s last victim was a 12 year old girl. he went from college “downward”. Let’s see, let’s get as close to the line we can as not to be illegal while the viewers do the same from fantasy to reality.
I do thank you for making us aware, I will pass this info along so we can get more on this petition.