In Support Of Cyber Safety Contstituency

["Jill C. Manning" <jillcmanning@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Please accept this email as my formal support of the Cyber Safety Petition and 
all related efforts to protect children, adolescents and concerned adults from 
online dangers. 

As a Marriage & Family Therapist, I am extremely concerned over the trends in 
cyberbullying, pornography, predators, hate speech, and unwanted content that 
are affecting a growing number of citizens globally.
 
In 2005, I testified before a Senate sub-committee on the subject of Internet 
pornography and its risks to the family.  Since that time, my concerns have 
grown and I am even more convinced of what I shared in my testimony:
 
"Although
many parents work diligently to protect their family from sexually
explicit material, research funded by Congress has shown Internet
pornography to be “very intrusive.” Additionally, we know that a variety of 
fraudulent, illegal and
unethical practices are used to attract new customers and eroticize
attitudes that undermine public health and safety. This profit-driven
assault jeopardizes the well-being of our youth and violates the
privacy of those who wish not to be exposed.Leading experts in the field of 
sexual addictions contend on-line
sexual activity is “a hidden public health hazard exploding, in part
because very few are recognizing it as such or taking it seriously.”
 Research
reveals many systemic effects of Internet pornography that are
undermining an already vulnerable culture of marriage and family. Even
more disturbing is the fact that the first Internet generations have
not reached full-maturity, so the upper-limits of this impact have yet
to be realized. Furthermore, the numerous negative effects research
point to are extremely difficult, if not impossible, for individual
citizens or families to combat on their own."
[For my entire testimony and applicable research, go to: 
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/tst111405a.cfm]

I sincerely hope that bold and specific steps will be taken by your board to 
increase choice and safety for all.  

Sincerely, 
Jill 

Jill C. Manning, Ph.D., LMFTP.O. Box 6351Broomfield, CO 80021Phone: (303) 
379-1203 
www.drjillcmanning.com

Author of What's the Big Deal about Pornography?: A Guide for the Internet 
Generation
Now available in select bookstores and Amazon.com






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