(TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to some readers.)

The Porn Industry is a booming business that has grown rapidly in recent years to meet the demands of a society that seems to be begging for more. There are many differing opinions that come with viewing porn, but for the most part, porn is an aspect of culture that has been widely accepted. It's a normal part of society and is even depicted in smaller ways in advertisements and movies. Pornography has slipped its way into our homes, relationships, and minds. It's time we rethink pornography.

So what's the big deal? Well, let me hit you with some facts first. Pornographic websites organize their content by keywords and type of pornography. Viewers search for their desired videos or images by selecting certain keywords. In 2014, the single most searched keyword was "teen" and still was during 2015. People around the world are demanding videos starring girls who are acting 18 and younger, or may actually be younger than 18. The demand for underage girls in pornography is staggering. Coupled with this most searched keyword, 88.2 percent of top-rated porn involves violent or non-consensual sexual acts. When we logically put these two facts together we come to the conclusion that there is undoubtedly an overlap between the violent videos and the underage videos. This means that people are begging for aggressive acts against young women.

The most alarming problem, out of many, arises when we realize that such videos as these are teaching our young men about what a sexual relationship looks like. A study conducted by the University of Montreal has revealed that the average age that boys are first exposed to pornography is ten years old. Yes, you read that correctly. When our boys are exposed to such graphic images at such an early age, what they see in these videos is all they know. Pornography becomes the beginning of their sexual education. Before these boys even have their first real crush, before they are taught how to treat a woman, before they are properly educated, porn reaches them and begins to shape their perception of sex, relationships, and women. When a boys' first view of sex is something non-consensual or violent or simply disrespectful, this becomes what they want. Ultimately there is no excuse. We all know better. Rather than being taught that no means no, young men are being shown that they should just keep going and try harder. There is a sense of entitlement in sexual relationships among those who view porn and it is rapidly poisoning our minds, hearts, and society. I have experienced this firsthand.

My first brush with pornography was when I was about 7 years old. My childhood abuser exposed me to various forms of pornography. He soon began to sexually abuse me. I don't remember much but I remember that this man preferred violent pornography and, in turn, was a violent man. 11 years later during my first semester of college, I was raped by a young man who was a virgin. As he was raping me, amidst my excuses and pleas to stop he said, "I learned everything I know from porn,". To this day, I am not sure why he said that, but it has haunted me and lead me to a new realization. These violent men, these entitled men, these abusers all had one thing in common-they were fueled by porn.

Consider the recent news stories involving Josh Duggar. He molested his sisters when they were all children and a couple of young girls who were family friends. Since it has been discovered that he had a profile on a website that finds people partners to have extra-marital affairs with. In the profile he made attempting to find a partner, he used words such as "kinky" and "rough" to describe the kind of sex he was looking for. He has also admitted to being addicted to pornography. The aftermath broke his family's hearts, ruined reputations, and stunned a nation.

Not only this, but many subjects of pornographic videos are victims of forced prostitution and even sex trafficking. By demanding pornography in any form we are prompting those in the industry to go to any means necessary to meet demands and make money. Simply by being viewers, we are contributing to the kidnapping, mistreatment, and sexual abuse of women around the globe.

Now, am I saying that everyone who views porn is automatically a rapist/pedophile? Absolutely not. But is this evidence that porn shapes our thinking, perception, and expectations, and especially the world around us? I believe that it is. Scientifically speaking, when one is rewarded for something they have done they are more likely to repeat that action. Research proves that brains learn and absorb information better when they are sexually aroused. The combination of these two facts goes to show that porn heavily influences the sexual relationships that we will have.

But is abuse the only consequence of all of this? No. I firmly believe that the greatest injustice of all is that which takes place in each individual's heart – the hearts of the individuals who are objectified and abused, and also the hearts of those who view pornography and let this atrocity infiltrate their lives for their own selfish gain.

When we click our computer mouse, open a magazine, or tap 'play' on our phone screen we are giving in to the notion that these humans – these people who have great value – are nothing more than objects for our entertainment and pleasure. Where is our humanity? When did we agree and give in to something so destructive? Value and dignity is given to humans purely for the fact that we are humans and we are worthy of a love that is so much better than this. It's time to love others and ourselves enough that we make a decision to change. It's time to rethink porn.