15 yr old son viewing porn

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2006
15 yr old son viewing porn
6
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 3:05pm

I woke up at 3:00 am to find my son in the computer room. He said he had forgotten to turn the computer off earlier. Later I checked the cookies and found that he had been viewing soft porn. This is not the first time he has been caught looking at inappropriate sites. We have parental controls (blocks hard porn) but he finds ways to access soft porn. I'm ready to revoke the restricted computer time that he is allowed. Anyone else had this problem with their teens? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2005
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 3:13pm
I would unplug him right away. Tell him you will reinstate the privilege when he begins to demonstrate self control. Good luck on this one.
jt
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 5:33pm

We're in a new era from the one that we grew up in.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 6:44pm
This seems to be a common problem.
In our eletronic age, trying to keep young teenage boys away from internet porn is like holding up your umbrella for the upcoming tsunami.
Rather than pull the plug:
Talk to him about what you found (DH particularly)
Talk about the unrealistic and unhealthy ways in which women are treated in these pictures and videos.
Not sure your definition of "soft porn". If it's that soft, you may want to make sure you have no copies of Cosmo around either.. :-)
Keep the controls in place (for the limited good they will do)
Keep talking..talking..
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2005
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 7:32pm
Great advice from Daddioe and Rose.... I especially like Rose's take on viewing the sites with mom! And daddioe is right - talk, talk, talk. I may have been a bit hasty on this one...
jt
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 7:32pm
Maybe you should make the restrictions tougher on your parental controls. I block ALL adult web, video and images. I really don't think anyone in our family needs to view any porn hard or "soft". I don't really know what soft porn is actually but I imagine that if its the kind of crap I would see without these mature content filters on I'd be afraid to let my son see it. Its way more harsh than playboy, that's for sure...
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2006
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 9:41am

Thank you all for your suggestions. I had a talk with my son last night, and explained why I thought this material is inappropriate for him to view. I told him what he sees is not portraying women, or the relationships of men and women in a positive manner. That if he has any questions or concerns he can feel comfortable talking to his Dad or myself.

I do intend to monitor the computer activity more frequently as well as initiating future conversations with my son. Thanks again for all of your help.

Shelly