Adolescents are constantly bombarded by technology every day with little restrictions, to the point where this can lead to significant problems down the road. The ease of information access will often lead adolescents down a path that can develop into a porn addiction. Their developing brains are not always able to maturely handle this mature information. Technology at their fingertips, more and more adolescents are viewing online porn. This can lead to a dopamine rush. The result is teenager or young adult that continues to chase these good feelings, leading to a porn addiction. This can negatively affect the individual as they get older, creating unrealistic sexual expectations that prevent them from having healthy relationships, while creating a dependency on porn.
Having Access to Porn at a Younger Age
Children and teenagers have more technology access today than ever before. The things that they are seeing online can be difficult for the young brain to process, including the physical and emotional sensations that go along with this. Adolescents, that are unprepared for this level of maturity, can struggle with unfettered access to technology. With porn prevalent online, it is likely that these children will stumble across this at a younger and younger age. The result of this exposure, to an immature and developing brain, can be overstimulating and confusing. Without knowing how to healthily process these feelings, this can quickly lead to a dependency, creating a porn addiction in adolescents.
Developing Brains in Adolescents May Abuse Technology, Leading to a Porn Addiction
With the internet at their fingertips like never before, children and teenagers can have access to porn when and wherever they like. This unlimited technology can have a serious impact on their developing brains. Viewing pornography online releases a chemical in the brain, dopamine. The immature brain will continue to chase these good feelings, viewing more and more pornography online. This pattern can quickly lead to a persistent need, that is a clear indication of a porn addiction. Without knowing how to process these feelings, or control these desires, adolescents are particularly susceptible to developing this type of addiction.
A porn addiction can lead to individuals neglecting other parts of their lives, including school, work, and their relationships. For those that are still developing as individuals, this can be especially impactful. This can also lead to adolescents having sex and experimenting at a younger age, before there are mature enough for these activities. This can lead to dangerous consequences, including pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually promiscuous behavior can also influence a young person’s mental health, as they may not be ready for the emotions and feelings that go along with this.
If you or someone you love is suffering from a porn addiction, the team at Campbell Recovery Services can help. From helping adolescents learn to handle unlimited technology access to managing a porn addiction, it is important that this is addressed as soon as possible to prevent any lasting effects.
