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Forum tackles over-sexualisation in the media
Bhavna Sookha. 27 November 2006. Daily News. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Safety takes precedence over privacy. This was the message from Noreen Ramsden, a child activist and founder member of the Children's Rights Centre, during her presentation at the Nelson Mandela Medical School in Durban.
Ramsden was speaking at a forum titled "Obstacles to HIV Prevention: Over-sexualisation in the Media".
Parents, teachers, and faith leaders have described their frustrations with being unable to counter the marked influence of sexualised mass media messaging, particularly on young people.
Ramsden said statistics showed that the average age of a child who had been exposed to pornographic material was 11 and with most children having access to the Internet, this was an open invite to viewing explicit pornographic material.
She said that at least 80 percent of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 have experienced multiple hard-core exposure to horrific images, including that of bestiality, while online.
"Sometimes innocent searches go to misdirected sites while others misuse well known brand names like Pokemon, My Little Pony and Barbie," said Ramsden.
"The exposure to porn causes distress, damage, inappropriate thrills and also encourages inappropriate sexual activities and behaviour.
"Children may also be prompted to act out sexually against younger, smaller and more vulnerable children," she said.
"Pornography distorts attitudes and values and short circuits natural development of sexuality."
Ramsden also said porn has a shock value which is commercially exploited and encouraged an appetite for more and more deviant, bizarre and violent types of pornography.
Ramsden advised parents to protect children by using parental control methods and using filtering systems and by putting in place rules for using the Internet.
- Never give out personal information to anyone.
- Never fill out any online questionnaire without the permission of parents.
- Never make arrangements to meet people who you have met on the Internet.
- No access to chat rooms.
- Never tell anyone online what you are doing or where you are going.
- Never respond to strange e-mails.
- Don't open strange e-mails.
- Don't send pictures of yourself to anyone.
- Don't respond to any conversations which make you feel uncomfortable.
- Don't buy or order anything online or go into websites that cost money.
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