In the ever-expanding technology landscape, inadequate protections for children online jeopardize young innocence and undermine the heart of American families. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Illinois-15) and the Congressional Family Caucus held a briefing this week on the SCREEN Act, a bill that requires pornographic websites to install robust age verification protections.
Congresswoman Miller and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) sponsored the SCREEN Act in the 118th Congress, but neither chamber brought the bill to the floor for a vote.
However, the panelists at the briefing explained that the need for these protections is urgent and suggested Congress make the SAFE Act a priority. Tori Hirsch from the National Center for Sexual Exploitation brought the stats to reinforce the claim. Their research shows:
- 73% of 13–17-year-old children have consumed pornography
- 54% were exposed at 13 years old or younger
- 52% saw violent pornography including choking, pain, or the appearance of rape
The damages caused by this exposure are considerable. Pornography at a young age is linked to sexual exploitation and aggression, general aggressive behavior, earlier sexual intercourse, poor academic achievement, mental health issues, prostitution, and more.
Children often first see pornographic materials accidentally while browsing the internet. This is due to the lack of age protections that allow easily accessible pornographic material in everyday scrolling.
The U.S. Supreme Court notably struck down protective measures against distributing obscenity to minors in the 1997 case Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union. Again in 2009, they struck down an age verification law on pornographic websites. Though they recognized a government interest in protecting children, they claimed the protections were too broad. Thus, to protect minors, parents should instead use filter protections.
The problem is that the filters available have been consistently proven to be insufficient. In the world of booming technology, they routinely block harmless materials but allow obscene images and videos. It is a lazy fix, and children continue to suffer the consequences.
To truly protect children, the filters must be placed on the production of pornography itself. Age restrictions on pornography are simple, effective, and do not restrict adult consumption.
O We should all realize that checking a box that says you are 18-years-old is not actually verifying age at all. Third party groups exist that will partner with websites to ensure SCREEN compliance. Two panelists at the briefing explained just how simple the verifying process can be and offered assurances that these companies cannot store any data once it is verified.
Nineteen states have already passed similar measures including Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Indiana. The Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Texas law earlier this month, and the case’s decision could overturn harmful obscenity precedents. CWA’s Executive Vice President Annabelle Rutledge shared remarks at the rally outside SCOTUS in support of the Texas law. Her message was clear: “It is time for the Court to put children first.”
Children aren’t allowed in strip clubs. Children aren’t allowed to order alcohol online. The missing obscenity protection for children online isn’t just inconsistent, it’s unjust. That is why Concerned Women for American Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) continues to support Congresswoman Miller and Sen. Lee’s efforts to strengthen online safety through the SCREEN Act.
CWALAC will not stop fighting for the innocence of our youngest on Capitol Hill and at the Supreme Court. They deserve it.