Efforts are being made to better protect minors from accessing pornographic content on the internet. The big question, however, is how to achieve this. EVP National Council member Nik Gugger is advocating for SMS age verification but faces resistance.
Pornographic content is easily accessible on the internet, even for children and teenagers. Often, simply closing a pop-up window that asks for age confirmation is enough to gain access. Easy accessibility is a concern for the parliament. Therefore, an effective method is currently being sought to prevent minors from consuming such content.
The initiative for increased youth protection comes from EVP National Council member Nik Gugger. Initially, he called for internet blocks, which were rejected by the communication committee of the Council of States. Instead, he now envisions a control mechanism using SMS. "20 Minuten" summarizes Gugger's proposal as follows: "When accessing a pornographic website, users must enter their mobile phone number. Then, they will receive an SMS with a login code. The network provider would know if the mobile number is registered to someone over 16 years of age."
Telecommunications industry: "Responsibility of website operators" However, Christian Grasser, Managing Director of the Association of Telecommunications Companies, does not think highly of this proposal. He states, "Age verification is the responsibility of website operators, not the telecommunications companies that only provide internet access." Additionally, Grasser points out that most pornographic content providers are not based in Switzerland, so an age verification solution would need to be implemented internationally.
Nevertheless, Gugger is open to considering alternative methods of age verification, such as the French model that also relies on SMS codes. In this case, age verification is not directly performed by the network operator but by a third-party entity. Gugger also suggests that age verification could be done via credit card. However, critics have raised concerns that teenagers can easily access their parents' credit cards. Critics: "Disproportionate effort" Regardless of the approach, critics argue that the effort involved is too extensive. JGLP President Tobias Vögeli states, "We support the principle of data minimization." He also notes that the group of individuals under 16 years old is relatively small.
Therefore, he says, "Building a large system to protect them would be disproportionate. We would resist it." Gugger's proposal is expected to be discussed in the Council of States on June 6th.
Pornography is a massive industry, with a global worth estimated at $97 billion. Around 25% of search engine requests are pornography-related, demonstrating its prevalence online. An estimated 40 million Americans regularly visit porn sites, highlighting its extensive reach. Among men aged 18-24, 70% visit pornographic websites at least once per month, indicating its impact on young adults. There are over 4.2 million adult websites, comprising 12% of all websites, underscoring the industry's significant presence. Internet pornography constitutes about 20% of total e-commerce sales in the United States, illustrating its financial influence. Around 1.7% of adult women have worked in the pornography industry, showcasing its far-reaching effect. The average time spent on a porn site is approximately 15 minutes, emphasizing its ability to captivate viewers. In the United States, 52% of online pornography consumers are aged 35-49, revealing a mature audience. The most common age group consuming internet pornography is 18-24, with 77% reporting recent consumption, indicating targeted marketing towards young adults. These statistics offer valuable insights into the world of adult entertainment and its impact on society.
The impact of watching explicit sites can have various effects on individuals. Here is a brief description of some potential impacts:
1. Psychological Effects: Viewing explicit content may lead to psychological consequences such as addiction, desensitization, and distorted perceptions of relationships and sexuality. It can contribute to unrealistic expectations, body image issues, and negative self-esteem.
2. Relationship Issues: Excessive consumption of explicit material can strain relationships. It may create unrealistic expectations, decrease intimacy and satisfaction within partnerships, and contribute to infidelity or dissatisfaction with real-life sexual encounters.
3. Sexual Functioning: Frequent exposure to explicit content can potentially impact sexual functioning. Some individuals may experience difficulties with arousal, performance, or orgasm in real-life sexual situations due to desensitization or dependence on explicit material for arousal.
4. Distorted View of Sexuality: Explicit sites often present a narrow and exaggerated depiction of sexuality, emphasizing unrealistic body standards, behaviours, or scenarios. This can influence individuals, particularly young people, to develop distorted views of healthy relationships and sexuality.
5. Emotional Consequences: Watching explicit sites can evoke emotional responses such as guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression. These emotions may arise due to personal values, moral conflicts, or a sense of feeling out of control.
6. Impact on Youth: Exposure to explicit material at a young age can have significant consequences on a child's development. It may disrupt their understanding of healthy relationships, boundaries, and consent, potentially leading to harmful behaviours or skewed perceptions of sexuality.
7. Legal and Ethical Concerns: Accessing explicit content involving minors or engaging in illegal activities can result in legal repercussions, damaged reputations, and ethical dilemmas.
It is important to note that individual experiences and reactions can vary, and not everyone will necessarily encounter these impacts. However, being mindful of the potential consequences and practising responsible digital habits is crucial to maintaining healthy attitudes towards sexuality and relationships.
