Graphic TV.  Real-life harm.

Research links eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression to the proliferation of sexualized images in the media, according to a  2009 Task Force by the American Psychological Association on the Sexualization of Girls.

Teens who are exposed to sexual content on television are more likely to have sex, engage in sex at a younger age, and twice as likely to get pregnant during their teen years. (RAND Corporation, 2008)

Exposure to even non-violent sexual content increases “sexual callousness,” and beliefs that females enjoy sexual aggression and rape
(Brown, J. and L’Engle,2009).

Exposure to nonexplicit sexual content on television predicts earlier initiation of sexual behaviors (Brown, J. and L’Engle, 2009).

Internet Pornography: a secret, devastating plague.

$2.84 billion in revenue was generated from U.S. porn sites in 2006 and 260 new porn sites go online daily (Michael Arrington, "Internet Pornography Statistics." Tech Crunch, May 12, 2007).

Two-thirds (66%) of males and more than one-third (39%) of females had seen at least one form of sexually explicit media in the past year. (Brown, J. and L’Engle,2009).

70% of adolescents initially encounter porn by accident, often while doing homework.
Jerry Ropelato, Internet Pornography Statistics, 2006.

The average age a child is first exposed to Internet porn is 11  (Jerry Ropelato, Internet Pornography Statistics, 2006).

81% of parents report that their children, ages 9-17, use the Internet and access web sites without adult supervision.
(University of Michigan 2009)

One in seven child Internet users has received sexual solicitations, one in three has been exposed to unwanted sexual material  (“Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later,” 2006 Department of Justice. )

"Porn" was in the top five most searched terms by kids in 2009, according to security firm Symantec, who compiled data from 14.6 million searches.

The risks are real. Violence breeds violence.

Exposure to violence in media poses a significant risk to the health of children and adolescents. Extensive research evidence indicates that media violence contributes to aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, nightmares, and fear of being harmed. ( American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Media Violence, 2009).

Children aged 9-12 exposed to violent video games are at risk for increased levels of aggression and violence  (Iowa State University, 2008).

Exposure to violent video games can desensitize individuals to real-life violence.  (Iowa State University, 2006).

Watching violent movies, even for a short time, results in a measurable decrease in a person’s ability empathize with the victims of violence, and an increase in the enjoyment of viewing such violence. (Fanti, K., Vanman, E., Henrich, C. &Avraamides, M.Desensitization to Media Violence Over a Short Period of Time. Aggress Behavior. 2009 Vol. 35, 179-187)

Children exposed to media violence show significantly increased aggressive behaviors, aggressive thoughts, and angry feelings and reduced helping behavior. (Bushman, Brad J., Huesmann, L. R., 2006).

The amount of offensive TV content is staggering.

Nearly 90% of shows aired during the “Family Hour” contain objectionable content. (Parents Television Council Kaiser Foundation Study, “The Alarming Family Hour,” September 2007.)