Rep. James Thibault: HB 293 would restrict minors’ access to obscene material

To The Daily Sun,

In the age of technology, an all-too-common ensnarement for people, especially young men, is pornography addiction. It’s a story I’ve heard time and again from young men my age — they were exposed to pornography as preteens and it was so readily available online with no accountability that it became an unshakable habit. For this reason, I’m pleased to be working with Rep. Margaret Drye on HB 293 to restrict minors’ access to obscene material.

HB 293 will protect New Hampshire youth by requiring device manufacturers to prompt parents with an age confirmation when setting up a device. A content filter automatically engages if the device is set up for a minor. This innovative, proactive approach will help parents prevent their children from being exposed to inappropriate content regardless of their technological knowledge. According to the American Psychological Association, the average age of first exposure to porn is about 13 years old, so having a filter automatically block such material will help delay that introduction, staving off the early dependency that so often develops.

The porn industry profits from the addiction of young people, significantly harming their futures and relationships. Extended porn use increases the likelihood of abuse by warping a man’s views on women while also causing depression. It additionally exploits sex trafficking for content creation, creating a depraved cycle in which the consumers’ use of the product harms both themselves and those featured in it.

HB 293's protections don't replace diligent parenting and responsible regulation of screen time. However, it helps parents utilize one extra tool to protect their children from the scourge of porn addiction. HB 293 is a commonsense bill that protects kids, assists parents, and ensures healthier, stronger, more responsible future generations.

Rep. James Thibault

Franklin