by KYW's tech reporter Bob Bicknell
More and more children are being exposed to online pornography whether they want to see it or not.
A new study on the subject, released Monday, says 42 percent of Internet users ages 10-17 have seen pornographic images online, and two-thirds of them say it wasn’t because they went looking for them.
A study in the February issue of “Pediatrics” says pornography is finding its way before the eyes of young people through normal Internet use -- such as web browsing, chatting online, and e-mail.
The highest risk for unwanted exposure, according to the report, is the use of file-sharing web sites and software, often used to trade music or video files.
Researchers say that while filtering software is not 100 percent effective, it can cut down on the amount of material your child can access. You should also make sure you talk to your child about what they see online, and make sure the family computer is in a public place and not behind closed doors.
Read Bob Bicknell's "Web Picks of the Day"
E-Mail Story
Print Story
