NCJ Number
212944
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 14 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2005 Pages: 415-429
Date Published
November 2005
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This literature review examined whether warnings and/or advice attached to Internet Web sites can dissuade children from viewing pornographic images legal for adults and prevent anyone (adults included) from viewing a site that displays child pornography.
Abstract
The author concludes that warnings have had little effect in dissuading children from viewing pornography or in preventing both adults and children from viewing child pornography. Such warnings have proven to be counterproductive, in that they apparently entice people to taste "forbidden fruit." If potential viewers of child pornography were convinced they would be prosecuted for viewing Internet child pornography or that their viewing of child pornography fuels an industry that significantly harms children, then they might be persuaded to avoid such sites based on self-protection or a desire to preserve a self-image as a protector of children. In the case of children viewing pornographic images on the Internet, there is little evidence that any advice attached to a site can dissuade them from viewing it. The only benefit of such warnings may be to assist parents/caregivers in keying the blocking of sites to such warnings. These conclusions, however, are tentative, because the research itself is limited and preliminary. Testing of groups of youth who may seek out or come across pornography on the Internet is necessary; and there should be testing of the effect of warnings on those who may come across child pornography accidentally while surfing the Internet. The value of warnings for those who already choose to view child pornography should also be tested, specifically whether warnings break the habit if they threaten viewers' anonymity. Research on the content and structure of warning messages and their delivery should be conducted as well. 65 references