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Teens at Most Risk: What Parents Need to Know "Internet pornography addiction can develop even more easily than a drug or alcohol addiction because it engages the most sensitive sense we have, our eyes; and it's readily available in unlimited quantities.   It's even more addictive than drug addictions because the images are directly stored in the memory and imagination which remain long after viewing Internet pornography, altering the structure and function of the brain," said Dr. Weber. She also says it's the medium of the message that has a more significant role than the content in altering the functional connectivity of the brain—specifically that high speed Internet can rewire the pleasure center, especially when coupled with pornographic images. Studies show that those who view Internet pornography for hours each week have decreased gray matter, a major component of central nervous system, than those who do not view it.  This means there are fewer neurons and...

The idea of pornography addiction and teens suffering from it seems unlikely, but it happens more often than you think. With the availability of pornographic material online and peer pressure to check it out, too many teens fall victim to an obsession that once only plagued some adults. If you have caught your teen with porn and you chalked it up to youthfulness and hormones, you might be right not to be too worried. On the other hand, you should be aware that porn addiction in teens is real and that it can be very damaging. TEENS AND EXPOSURE TO PORN   With high-speed Internet and online savviness, teens have greater access to pornography than ever before. They don’t need to sneak a magazine out of a store or steal a video from a friend’s parent. Teens can get porn on their phones and tablets with the touch of a screen, and much of it is free. Addiction to porn may seem unlikely, but it does happen and it’s happening to young people more and more. Teens are more vulnerable to beco...