Pornography usage and discerners: Navigating a complex path
- HORIZON

- May 1
- 8 min read
By Father Bryan Silva OMI

ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE QUESTIONS in discussing new applicants to the seminary and religious life is the widespread availability of pornography and sexual images. Generational changes and the current culture have brought a more accepting attitude toward pornography use. Long past are the days of innocently creating your “porn name” by matching your first pet and the street you grew up on, or other commonplace childish games. Currently, among U.S. adults 18-35, approximately 87 percent of men and 28.5 percent of women view porn once a week. Young males are first exposed to porn by age 10 and girls by age 13. This widespread availability of sexual images sets up this current cohort of young adults for difficulty navigating questions of sexual activity, sexuality, and value-based decisions in an unpressured fashion.