The problem of pornography - porn on the Internet, an infographic

Wow! This is shocking! Take a look at the infographic below to get an idea of the pervasiveness of Internet pornography.

This such a troubling issue - in my regular counselling as part of my ministry the matter of addiction to porn has become increasingly common. At least once or twice a month I have someone coming to see me about this matter. Frequently it is wives who have discovered that their husband or son is visiting porn sites on their computer or cell phone. At other times it is men who feel convicted by this issue.

If you look at the bottom of this image you'll see that the most common day on which porn is viewed is a Sunday!  My goodness - that is a concern!  Here's what I assume.

- Most men view pornography on their personal computers and cell phones.

- This is done at home (and not at work).

- People view porn when they are not engaged in other mentally stimulating or physically taxing activities (e.g., work, sport etc.)

We need to do something about this.  I am convinced that pornography destroys relationships and objectifies human persons!

Here's what I suggest:

1. Don't place yourself in a situation where you can be tempted! It is far more difficult to fight temptation than it is to avoid it altogether! So, don't ever use you computer in private (make sure your laptop or home computer is in a public space where anyone can walk past and see what you're surfing)

2. Speak openly and honestly to your wife and sons about the challenges and dangers of pornography.

3. Pray that God will keep your mind from this temptation. And, this may sound a bit crazy, but dedicate your computer and cell phone to Holy Purposes! Dan Ariely's great book on the neuroscience of choice ("Predictably irrational") shows that when we make a simple oath like this it is a powerful motivation to do the right thing! I, for example, prayed and offered my cell iPhone, iPad and laptop for Godly use. It makes a huge difference.

4. Get support and help. A simple thing that I have heard about is to get an accountability partner who you agree can check your browsing history and cookies at any time, and someone that you can phone and pray (and even meet) with if you face temptation.

So, do you think I am being puritanical by expecting men (and women) to not access pornography?

If you agree with my perspective do you have any suggestions for combatting temptation? I'd love to hear from you!

The infographic comes from Guy Kawasaki's site here: http://holykaw.alltop.com/the-stats-on-internet-porn-infographic

Please visit his site if you would like a larger copy of the image.