Joseph: A 'Porn Addict' at Age 13
Joseph, 13, was drawn in by porn he saw on the Internet
Wearing a baseball cap, T-shirt, and baggy gym shorts, the young man looks like a normal teenager. We see him riding his bike through his neighborhood, climbing trees, and playing on a jungle gym.
But, by his own admission, he had a serious problem that began three years ago while he was surfing the Internet in his parents’ living room.
“My name is Joseph. I am 13-years-old, and I’m a recovered porn addict,” he says in the documentary Over 18: One Question Is Not Enough, a feature-length film that provides an examination of pornography, its effects on kids, teens, parents, and others.
Joseph, a central character in the documentary, talks about how easy it can be to access porn sites: one popped up on the screen as he was playing a computer game at home.
After he clicked on it and saw what was there, he says, “I couldn’t get it out of my mind. You almost feel like a little craving . . . at first, you think it’s curiosity, but it’s a craving.”
Also featured in the documentary are Joseph’s parents as well as the owner of an adult bookstore, porn stars who speak about the industry, anti-porn advocates, and experts who research how social media, including Internet porn, affects young people.
“The goal of this documentary is to educate youth on the realities of pornography, to help their parents understand the growing epidemic of hardcore porn usage, and to propose solutions for preventing exposure and addiction in the first place,” said Faye Martin, abuse prevention and response coordinator for the Christian Reformed Church’s Safe Church Team Ministry in British Columbia.
“The information provided in this documentary is critical to each parent, spouse, grandparent, church leader, pastor, educator and more,” she added.
Martin has helped host showings of the documentary at several CRC congregations across B.C. in recent weeks, and more are scheduled.
The effort has drawn interest from CRC congregations outside of her province, and a reporter from the Canadian Broadcasting Network interviewed Martin on the subject.
Faye Martin “seems to have touched a nerve,” said Bonnie Nicholas, director of the CRC’s Safe Church Ministry. “She has brought forward a topic that is so important but can be easily hidden within our congregations. Although many may know it is an issue, they don’t know what to do about it. Faye is trying to help increase understanding so that our response to it can be more effective. Safe Church is happy to support these efforts for the sake of our families, congregations, and communities.”
“The denomination has addressed the topic of pornography at synod. And Safe Church Ministry has made resources available for people who want to know more and to find ways to become part of the solution to this harmful problem,” said Nicholas.
Martin said the idea to connect with churches about showing a film like this came from a ministry needs-assessment that the British Columbia Safe Church ministry conducted a year or so ago with its 26 B.C. churches.
“Across the board, leaders expressed concern for education and response to this growing epidemic of porn usage. After learning this, we came across the documentary, which was made by a separate organization,” said Martin.
“Our hope in hosting these screenings is to open up a broad conversation about pornography and addiction in our churches and community.”
So far, the showings at churches, even when the weather has been bad, have drawn large audiences, which is testimony, she said, to the interest parents are showing not only about porn but also about use of social media overall.
“Most Internet pornography is initially accessed inadvertently/unintentionally or by another person/peer/friend introducing it, and the addictive nature of the content draws users back to the sites,” said Martin.
This is particularly difficult for children and teens whose cognitive and processing skills along with the brain development that affects judgment are not yet developed in a way that makes it possible for them to process the information in healthy ways.
“All of that is coupled with research surrounding the brain's response to viewing pornography, which shows the brain responds in the same way as it does to alcohol, cigarettes, narcotics, and drugs such as cocaine and heroin, indicating its addictive nature,” said Martin.
After they show the documentary, said Martin, they provide a panel that offers discussion and answers questions. The panel usually includes Martin herself and a youth pastor along with local professionals who work with porn and sexual addictions.
“Dealing with this is critical to the health and well-being of our kids who will be the next generation of the church,” said Martin.
The documentary trailer can be viewed at www.over18doc.com. For more information on the BC Safe Church Team, visit www.bcsafechurch.com.
Additional information:
Safe Church Ministry page of resources.
CRC position statement on pornography.
