We see and hear it more often than ever. Be it on the Internet or even in the media. In case you have no idea what I am talking about, it is pornography or simply short, porn. Today, I am bringing up the issue of children being exposed to pornography after have read a Daily Mail article written by Tanith Carey (whose up and coming book, Where Has My Little Girl Gone? How To Protect Your Daughter From Growing Up Too, is worth watching out and reading if you visit your local bookstore or library somewhere in 2011) a few days ago (25 April 2011).
As a child growing up in the eighties and nineties (before and during the Internet age), I was never exposed to pornography all thanks to my parents who made sure I was brought up properly. In this day and age, sadly, I cannot say the same for many children growing up in the 21st century. Every now and then, I have heard the occasional ‘horror’ stories from my friends and concerned parents about children being exposed to pornography on the Internet or in the media. Hello, we are talking about children here and they are supposed to watching some proper kids’ show, not some inappropriate, X-rated show which showcase some women or men being naughty onscreen for real in front of the camera or hanging out their bits and pieces for everyone to see.
Anyway, I am not going to go on longer about this issue. What says you about the issue of children being to pornography on the Internet and media in this day and age? What do you believe needs to be done to shield children from pornography exposure? Who or what should be blamed for allowing children nowadays to be exposed to pornography? Opinions are welcomed (but no profanity please)
whatsaysyou 
Back in the 90’s when the WWW was in its infancy, my sister and her friend (who were 10 years old) accidentally stumbled onto a porn site while researching for a class report on beavers. They unknowingly typed in beavers (.) com thinking it would lead them to a site about beavers. Sometimes when I type something too fast on the URL and miss a letter, it leads me to a porn site. It’s everywhere!
Thankfully, now there is .xxx (used in replacement of .com) to be used for porn sites. I think this is a great idea; Porn sites having the dot triple x domain extension rather than the regular dot com. This will make it easier for employers, parents, and any other person to filter out pornographic sites and for us to not accidentally stumble onto something that we don’t want to.
Thanks for the input, MaiBao.
This speaks of lack of policies and regulating bodies. The glamorisation of sexiness in children could also contribute to this. It is sad that even the “conservative” Asian TV shows are allowing for children to pose in compromising positions (soft porn?) to win viewership. Children see peers doing it, with their lack of ability to make the most educated decision, could very likely grow up thinking porn is normal.. 😦
Thank you for your input. Is this also happening in some Asian shows? Can you explain which part of Asia have this sort of stuff that shouldn’t be on the television in the first place?
Exceptionally prevalent in Taiwanese variety shows… They would get little girls to kiss guests, and encourage the girls to perform dance with erotic movements, and tell little girls who wore overly revealing clothes that they are cool… Chinese being a language spoken in many Asian countries, these shows are broadcasts across Asia.
Surprisingly, in Japan (where I stayed for few years) being internationally criticised for child pornography, are more modest on TV. Children shows for children and shows that might discuss anything deemed unsuitable usually are aired rather late at night. But, then again, it is not surprising to see a porn magazine right next to a kids comic in a convenient store. (Having said that, reading porn is still frowned upon when done in public. It is also not unsual that porn buyers being regarded as socially inept people in Japan)
What??!! This is happening in Taiwan?!! How could this be? What on earth has become of this conservative society? I thought Taiwan is supposed to be a conservative place but man, this is shocking, Al, and I am lost for words. How old are some of the children you mentioned? Those poor little children. Any child expert will tell us that sexualisation of children on television is unacceptable and can be damaging to their self-esteem. Can you tell me of one example of a television show in Taiwan and the name of that show. I better pray it’s not Taiwanese Super Sunday (I have heard the show but I don’t watch it). I know that Japan usually has child pornography in anime style and honestly, I find it repulsive and unacceptable (whoever comes with the yucky idea of such stuff should be imprisoned really)
There’s one that I can think of offhand is “Diamond Club”. I’ve seen it happening too many a time whenever I channel surf, and get totally disgusted with how they treat the child. The little girls are usually younger than 10. I’m not very sure if Super Sunday has any improper content for general viewing (I don’t watch too).
Yes, anybody who encourages child pornography should face legal consequences!
Surprisingly, I haven’t seen any child pornography materials in Japan. But, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist).
But I remember reading a shojo manga comic (target audience: secondary school girls) that, to my horror, had sex scenes. It left me utterly speechless.
Also, few years back, there was a hit teen flick, adapted from shojo manga comic “boku wa imouto wo koi suru” (translate to “I’m in love with my younger sister”) that glamorised incest, which again left me speechless. Surprisingly, it did extremely well! *sigh*
Diamond Club? Oh my Lord, who in the world would come up with such a show like this and it is worse to know now the kids may be younger than 10. Al, you have a point that anyone who encourages child pornography does need to face legal consequences regardless whether the person is living in an advanced Asian country or not. What?! A Japanese teen flick that glamourises incest, that so not happening.