The moral and spiritual fabric of society is under stress and challenged as never before by the rapid and bewildering spread of Internet-powered social media platforms used by children, students and the youth. At an early age 200 million girls and 100 million boys have access to platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and others where abusive child and adult images and materials, as well as adult pornography are easily available.
The availability of low-cost smartphones has made it relatively easy for young people to have access to the Internet and a smartphone is a “must have” for young people’s social status with their peers and for keeping in contact with their friends. The devices, while useful for education, learning and positive and inspiring communication, has its dark and dangerous side. Like a chameleon, it can change its colour in an instant from good to bad.
The Internet has accelerated the spread of insidious, evil and damaging child abuse images and adult pornography, viewed by children and young people and it is made available through the telecommunications corporations or Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The corporations in the Philippines and elsewhere enable and make possible the spread, proliferation and access to the child abuse and exploitation materials, and many refuse to install blocking software to filter it out to protect children and adults.
In the Philippines, the law (section 9 of RA 9775) dictates that PLDT, GLOBE and DITO must install the software. They refuse to do it.
Parents worldwide are losing touch with their children as the young people move away from parental control into the secret world of social media and have their own circle of contacts on their own Facebook accounts and messaging chat rooms. Through these platforms, undetected by parents, they come in contact with strangers and make special relationships with them. For some, it is a prelude to sexual abuse or exploitation.
Parents, communities and schools need to focus much more on the spiritual life and values formation of the children and young people. Parents need to be role models and heroes to their children by doing good works as an integral part of being Christian with their children beside them helping. The children will be inspired by the practical service and learn by doing. They will learn the value of sharing and giving and helping
Parents, communities and schools need to focus much more on the spiritual life and values formation of the children and young people. Parents need to be role models and heroes to their children by doing good works as an integral part of being Christian with their children beside them helping. The children will be inspired by the practical service and learn by doing. They will learn the value of sharing and giving and helping.
When parents notice changes in their reclusive child who spends long hours alone in the bedroom, or loses interest in school and studies, or has a secretive or rebellious attitude with parents, then there is a possibility that they are accessing child abuse material or are in a secret relationship with a groomer or boyfriend or girlfriend online. It is not always a drug abuse problem.
This worry or suspicion should never be a point of conflict between parents and their children. Building a strong relationship through shared activities with non-challenging conversation and doing things together is what builds friendship. Being a friend to your child is essential for a healthy family life and positive future for them.
They will feel the trust, understanding, affirmation and sense of being loved by the parents. They will then listen to the friendly advice about the dangers of online grooming relationships. Pope Francis recently promulgated a new Church law criminalising grooming by clerics and lay leaders in the Church.
That is a very young age to be introduced to videos and images of sexual intercourse. There is, for many young people, an immediate change of perspective and relationship with their parents and girls as a result. They tend to see girls as sexual objects rather than childhood friends
The damage and hurt to children starts early in life nowadays. Our recent survey of a small sample of 23 Filipino boys from troubled backgrounds and broken homes, who are now aged 15 to 17 years of age, gives us an important insight. They reveal troubling and some shocking information.
While it may not be representative of young people at large, it is a troubling phenomenon as they implicate their peers and adults as the people who introduce them to inappropriate videos and images. It is indicates that viewing these sexual images and videos online is widespread.
Three out of the 23 boys had seen child sexual abuse images at the age of seven; two were eight-years-old, while seven of them watched sexual acts online from nine-years-old and the rest from 10 to 13 years of age.
That is a very young age to be introduced to videos and images of sexual intercourse. There is, for many young people, an immediate change of perspective and relationship with their parents and girls as a result. They tend to see girls as sexual objects rather than childhood friends.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
The 23 interviewed watched in a computer shop, on a mobile phone or on a desktop computer. Sixteen were introduced to the images by their peers and while four said they were shown adult pornography by adult neighbours. One was shown pornography by a stranger. Two searched for images themselves and easily found them online.
When asked what they felt after watching, 10 boys said desired to have a sexual experience. Three felt satisfied and self-pleasured themselves. Two said they felt nothing and the rest said they watched more similar images online. One said he had a same-sex experience as a result while another said he took a shower and was nervous.
Nine boys reported that their first sexual contact was at the ages of 10, 11, 12 and 15 years. Four said they couldn’t remember how old they were. Ten boys said that while they watched child abuse material and adult pornography, they had not had any sexual contact.
Yet all of their lives went astray.
They were estranged from their parents and family, fell into conflict with the law and stopped studying. How much of this was because of viewing child abuse material or adult pornography at an early age we cannot say, but it surely has a strong negative impact on their self-image and how they view others. Many have sex at an early age. Teenage pregnancy in the Philippines is among the highest in the world.
In Subic, Zambales, three boys 10-, 11- and 12-years-old, gang raped a six-year-old child after watching child abuse material and videos on their mobile phones.
This proliferation of child abuse material must be stopped and the ISPs must be controlled by strict implementation of the law.
Father Shay Cullen
www.preda.org
