Filter expert says MySpace adds to high porn exposure for teens
by Ed Thomas
February 12, 2007
(OneNewsNow.com) - - A spokesman for an Internet filter company says the percentage of online users ages 10 to 17 who have viewed sexual images on the Internet, identified by University of New Hampshire researchers, is probably low in his opinion. That's based on a more comprehensive look using the definition of what is considered pornography. University of New Hampshire's study surveyed 1,500 Internet users by telephone to get its figures and conclusions, which are reported in this month's issue of Pediatrics journal. But Steve Ensley, president of American Family Online (AFO), says while he agrees with many of the conclusions in the university study, he feels it leaves out a fairly large number of exposures through trips to MySpace.com.
Ensley cites the study's definition of online pornography as "images of naked people" or "people having sex," of which he says is abundant on MySpace's site -- through 40,000-plus unmonitored new videos uploaded there each day and inappropriate images placed on teenage blogs there.
AFO's research indicates the number of children in the same age range as the study who have visited that site just in the last 30 days is closer to 85 percent.
