Pornography is a plague that has risen to epidemic proportions. Of all Internet users, 42.7 percent view porn; 40 percent of adults in the U.S. regularly visit porn websites; by next year, porn video consumption on tablet computers will triple. Pornography is highly addictive; it destroys marriages, makes women and children into sex objects, and fuels human trafficking. Christians are not exempt: 47 percent of believers say porn is a problem in their home.
Now there’s very good news for those who are working to counter this plague: the biggest Internet search engine, Google, has joined the fight. The company has prohibited apps sold through its app store that contain or promote explicit content. It is working on technology that would eliminate all images of child pornography and child abuse from the Internet. And now it has decided to refuse advertisements that contain or lead to pornography. This is a significant decision, for three reasons:
One: Casual Internet users will be far less likely to view porn unintentionally. It is estimated that 90 percent of America’s youth, ages 8 to 16, have viewed porn online, most while doing their homework. Many clicked on an interesting ad with no idea that it would lead to porn. Following Google’s decision, the Internet just became safer for our kids.
Two: Google’s decision may encourage and even pressure competitors to follow their example.
Three: Google is giving up enormous revenues. A 2012 study estimated that the company earned $100 million a day from its online advertising campaigns. As much as 12 percent of all websites contain porn; 25 percent of all search engine requests are porn-related. Google could lose a massive amount of money.
Source: Denison Forum on Truth and Culture
BIBLE STUDY: James 1:13-15
PRAISE: God that Google have made this principled decision even at cost to themselves. Pray that porn availability on the Web may be greatly reduced.