8-yr old Discovered Porn using iPod - How to Respond?

[kcarlton00]

My 8-year old daughter recently admitted to me that she's "discovered" (actually, was shown by an older friend) internet porn using her iPod Touch and has been viewing it compulsively.  Despite her young age, she already knows a lot of the "facts of life" as I've always encouraged her to ask questions and discuss openly anything wanted to know more about.  Given that, I have no intention of punishing her for her curiosity and don't want to react in a knee-jerk fashion, but I also don't want her continuing this behavior that I consider dangerous and destructive for a whole host of reasons.  Aside from my shock at how early this has come up, I'm very concerned about handling it well to protect her without making it a "forbidden fruit."  Would very much appreciate hearing from others who have faced this same situation - how did you handle it, what works and what doesn't?

[whatsnextmom]

We've talked a bit about porn with the kids though they are older than your child. We talk largely about the exploitation aspect of it, the treatment and unrealistic portrayal of women and men in those movies, the dangers of having so many partners, the money others are making hiring others to do something very personal, the absense of love, the addictive properties it seems to have for some, the emotional harm with couples who are not on the same page about it, ect. Porn pretty much turns the subjects into a zoo attraction. Plugging into their natural compassion for others seems pretty effective. This technique tends to work with our kids in other areas like with smoking. We haven't said "I better not ever see you smoke" but we've talked about the amount of money made off the addictions of others, the health hazards involved with smoking, the smell, the staining of teeth, ect. Of course, this is all stuff that has come in little bits and pieces over time and when questions were asked. Your DD sort of dove right in so your conversations will likely be more compacted. I do feel you are right not to over-reacte. She came across it and she was curious. How could she not be? Just tell her how you feel about it matter-of-factly.